Keeping your chickens cool in the summer heat.

Know the signs of heat stress in your birds! Chickens that are too hot have gaping mouths, pant, and hold their wings away from their bodies. If you see your chicken making an expression that looks like this < , they’re uncomfortable or stressed.

Severe temperatures especially heat pose a health risk to your chickens. Heat waves and sudden spikes in temperature can be life threatening to your flock. There are many easy ways you can help keep your chickens cool and beat the heat.

Provide extra water and keep all water sources fresh. I triple the amount of water dishes available to my chickens in the summer time. Make sure to offer them water in multiple locations and shady spots, not just in direct sun. I also add ice cubes. For convenience you can freeze water in a Tupperware container and add it to your regular chicken water to keep their drinking water cool and refreshing.

Provide your chickens with shade. Even the simpliest tarp cover can make the difference for your flock. It does not have to be pretty or elaborate. It is essential that chickens have access to shade and cover.

Water down your lawn or spots they frequent. Lightly wetting the areas your chickens frequent makes it easier for them to scratch and bathe. You don’t have to saturate your whole lawn. Simply spraying an area they frequent lightly with water can provide relief.

Freeze two liter bottles. Old plastic soda bottles, Tupperware, old butter containers, anything that will fit in your freezer can be used to help keep your chickens cool. Place them around their run, coop, or lounging area. Chickens are wary of changes to their environment so it may take time for them to trust them but they will eventually give them a try.

Wading pools. Mixed results here, all flocks are different, but some flocks may enjoy a child’s pool. To entice them to give it a try you can put pavers or large smooth stones in the bottom, any safe object to make the water not so deep. The pool doesn’t need to be completely filled. Placement is key, and even then it may take time for the chickens to trust this new object.

Fans. When possible or practical you can provide your chickens with an outdoor. At the height of summer we bring an old box fan out onto our porch for them and take it inside at night.

Misters. Hose extensions and devices that can spray a fine mist and keep an area cool are great tools to help keep chickens comfortable. Even if you only run them for a brief time they can bring much needed relief for your birds.

If it’s practical, replace panels with hardware cloth. Consider replacing some solid barriers in their coop or run with hardware cloth to allow more air flow during the hotter months. Remember it needs to be hardware cloth as predators can breach regular screen and chicken wire. Create air flow in the upper areas of your coop or run to allow hot air to escape upward.

In an emergency, wet down your bird. This should only be used as an emergency measure if one or multiple birds are showing persistent, unrelenting signs of stress and heat issues. You can run your chicken under cool water or mist them. Water on their feet, waddles, and combs helps them cool the fastest. I dampen a wash cloth and dab their waddles and feet (for my birds that tolerate handling). Never, ever spray a chicken with a full force hose.