How to keep chook cool in summer. (backyard chickens)

Summer can be a difficult time for keeping chooks, who come with their own year-round coat. Prolonged high temperatures can cause stress in chooks, reducing the number of eggs laid, slowing growth, and in extreme cases, death. Many people are very concerned about how to keep their flocks in the winter, but the summer also has many risks and must not be taken lightly. So, the question is often asked: how can I keep my chickens cool in the summer? While it is not an easy task, it is by all means possible. Read on to find out some easy ways to keep your flock nice and cool in the summer heat.

Telltale signs of a hot chook are panting and holding their wings away from their body. Panting chooks will have their mouths open and they will be breathing quickly. They do this because much like dogs, they can’t sweat. Chooks will also hold their wings away from their body so that air can circulate to cool them down. If you see any of these signs, you should implement one of the measures listed below.

Shade is the most important way to keep your chooks cool in the summer. Not having enough shade can be like torture to your chooks, which makes it one of the most significant ways you can keep your chickens cool. This should be a factor when deciding where to place a new coop. This can be provided in many ways:

- A tree
- Shrubs or climbing plants (non-toxic)
- Umbrellas
- Shade cloth
- A roof (for the run)
- A tarp

The more permanent methods, such as trees or shrubs, are ideal for stationary coops. Additionally, Chickens will seek out shade if they are free ranging. Simply make sure that there are trees or bushes in the yard where they free range. This serves the dual purpose of providing places for the flock to hide if a predator approaches.

However, providing shade can be more difficult when dealing with mobile coops. I had a mobile chook pen, which worked great. But on the hot days, the chooks would struggle to stay cool. I then came up with the solution to move the mobile coop under a tree which solved the issue.

For the Coop

If you are building a new coop and are concerned by the heat, keep two things in mind: shade and ventilation. Placing the coop next to a building or a tree will help to provide shade. A deciduous tree is a good option because the foliage will provide shade in the summer and the absence of foliage in the winter will let sunlight through for warmth.

Also consider ventilation, an incredibly important aspect of keeping chickens cool because chickens can easily die in a stuffy, overheated coop. Large amount of passive ventilation is essential if you live in a hot climate. This can be created through windows, vents, and roof gables. While this may seem like a predator concern, if you securely cover all openings with 1/2-1/4 inch hardware cloth, they should be completely secure and less prone to dying from heat stroke. This ventilation will be good for your birds not only because it keeps them cool, but also because more ventilation allows harmful gases such as ammonia to be dissipated, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy respiratory tract. Here is a fantastic article on ventilation.

In addition, it the size of the coop is important. Think of chickens as little heat and moisture- making machines. The average chicken’s body temperature is 37 degrees, so overcrowding can make the coop significantly warmer. When building coops for extremely cold temperatures, it is often recommended to err on the smaller side so as to conserve heat. That is exactly what you DON'T want when you're concerned about the heat. So, make your coop as large as you can-- not only will your chickens be happier in a large coop and less prone to bullying behaviours, but a larger coop will also be cooler because it will allow the heat to dissipate. If it is necessary to build a coop on the smaller side, focusing on effective ventilation is more important. A final option is insulation. Insulating the roof of the coop will keep the heat in the coop in winter and keep the heat of the sun out in summer.

In hot weather, it is absolutely essential that water be available all the time for your flock. This is one of the easiest ways chickens thermoregulate. You can add ice to the water to keep it cool, which will encourage chickens to drink more and also be more effective in cooling them. A nipple waterer is ideal for this.

if your birds are in a critical state, please contact your vet.

(all information has been gathered off backyard chickens website)