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It seems like the summers are getting hotter and hotter. I live in New England and a lot of my chickens are suited for cold weather and do not like the heat. I take some extra steps to keep them safe. Keeping your chickens cooled down on hot days is essential for their health and well-being. An overheated chicken is at risk. Here are some tips to help:
- SHADE: Ensure your chickens have plenty of shaded areas. You can use tarps, shade cloths, or natural shade from trees and shrubs.
- VENTILATION: Improve coop ventilation by opening windows, adding fans, or installing vents to allow for better air flow.
- COOL WATER: Provide fresh, cool water multiple times a day. You can even add ice cubes or blocks of ice that you have frozen to help keep the water cooler longer.
- ELECTROLYTES: Add electrolytes to their water to help them stay hydrated and replenish essential minerals lost through panting.
- FROZEN TREATS: Offer frozen fruits or vegetables, such as watermelon, or peas as a refreshing treat.
- MISTERS: Set up a misting system in the run to help lower the temperature. Make sure the mist doesn’t make the area too wet and muddy. This is an inexpensive way to keep your chickens cool.
- DUST BATHS: Provide a shaded area for dust baths. Dust bathing helps chickens cool down and stay clean.
- COOLING PADS: Place cooling pads or frozen water bottles in the coop or run for chickens to sit near.
- AVOID OVERCROWDING: Ensure the coop and run are not overcrowded to allow for better airflow and reduced stress.
By Implementing these strategies, you can help your chickens stay comfortable and healthy during hot weather.
Here are some great products to help keep your flock cool
Coop Mister
this is an inexpensive way to cool down your chickens quickly and may save a life. This is perfect for the chicken run.
Sun Shade Cloth/Tarp
Large cloth with grommets that can be repurposed for you garden
Solar Powered Fan
I love this item especially because it’s solar powered, has dual fans and isn’t overpriced
Electrolytes
I always keep this on hand. This is a great product to keep as a staple in your supplies.
Dust Bath
There’s nothing like a dust bath to help keep your chickens cool and clean
Waterer, Feeder Set with extras
I really like this set because it’s nice quality with large containers and you get a bang for your buck with extra products
Water Protector
I use this product because I work and am not able to change the water more than once a day. This product is all natural and safe to use. It uses enzymes to prevent residue and film build up on your water containers which is a big problem in the heat.
