Hot Weather Tips

By Elena Johnson CVC AC

Chickens can’t sweat so you do not want to wet them down, this does inhibit the same down that keeps them warm from helping them cool. A misting fan helps, kiddie pools in the shade, shade and air flow is key to keeping them cool. The coop should have a sealed motor exhaust fan for daytime, there should be windows on all 4 sides of your coop, remove the screens as they block airflow and cover the window openings in hardware cloth, this keeps predators out and air flowing. A sealed motor fan pointed towards the roost on hot nights is also a big help. Sealed motor fans do not let dust in the motor which can be a fire hazard with normal box fans. They cost a little more but by keeping the exhaust fan on during the day and direct fan on the roosts at night, my coop is 10-15° cooler than outside. I also freezer large cool whip containers and put the big chunk of ice in the nipple drinkers twice a day. If it’s hot for days, every 2-3 days I put in cool whip tubs with frozen electrolytes in them. Retired avian vet tech and 30 years of chickens.