Topic of the Week - Keeping Chickens Cool in Summer

Sort by date Sort by reaction score
CatWhisperer

CatWhisperer

Crowing
9 Years
Jun 16, 2013
1,520
5,174
411
northwest Arkansas
jeria said:
What do you use for shallow water dishes that the chickens can stand in? My run will be 8x10 and the small kiddie pools I've found would take up a lot of space. Summer can be really hot in MO and my coop in a yard with little shade though it and the run will have a roof topped with white metal roofing.
Click to expand...
Put some insulation under the roof. Metal roofing radiates a lot of heat below it.
 
khind

khind

Crowing
8 Years
Jul 16, 2014
447
404
252
Norman, OK, USA
CatWhisperer said:
Put some insulation under the roof. Metal roofing radiates a lot of heat below it.
Click to expand...
Do you happen to know if sizable Styrofoam boards glued to the underside (using a heat-resistant product like Liquid Nails) would help? I have a metal roof on the run with nothing yet attached to insulate the underside/ the ceiling.
 

Attachments

  • 20220618_164822.jpg
    20220618_164822.jpg
    335.8 KB · Views: 1
  • 20220618_164819.jpg
    20220618_164819.jpg
    225.5 KB · Views: 1
CatWhisperer

CatWhisperer

Crowing
9 Years
Jun 16, 2013
1,520
5,174
411
northwest Arkansas
khind said:
Do you happen to know if sizable Styrofoam boards glued to the underside (using a heat-resistant product like Liquid Nails) would help? I have a metal roof on the run with nothing yet attached to insulate the underside/ the ceiling.
Click to expand...
I use styrofoam but it is laminated on both sides to be used as sign boards. Chickens will happily eat styrofoam so keep it out of reach. I had to duct tape edges and seams when I put mine up. My coops are all insulated with it and the walls of open coops are removable for summer weather.
 
khind

khind

Crowing
8 Years
Jul 16, 2014
447
404
252
Norman, OK, USA
3KillerBs said:
Your plans for the wire arches look good to me -- lightweight, but strong enough.

The shade cloth is water and air-permeable, right?

The important thing is that the hot air can escape upward and pull cool air in from the edges.
Click to expand...
The weave on the garden shade cloth is pretty tight, but by design it does let some air in. and if I sprayed a hose right on it it would let some water in.
"Today" was way too ambitious. 🙄
 
T

Tram

Chirping
Jan 8, 2019
33
88
81
Marion, TX
My Coop
My Coop
khind said:
Do you happen to know if sizable Styrofoam boards glued to the underside (using a heat-resistant product like Liquid Nails) would help? I have a metal roof on the run with nothing yet attached to insulate the underside/ the ceiling.
Click to expand...
LIQUID NAILS® Projects & Foamboard Adhesive (LN-604)
Doesn't melt the foam, regular liquid nail is solvent based.

Also, Lowe's or Home Depot have the radiant barrier foam.
 
T

Tram

Chirping
Jan 8, 2019
33
88
81
Marion, TX
My Coop
My Coop
Coop hit 102 today, open air design. The 90° black shade cloth helps a lot. A mister is placed in front of the fan. Couple water bowls with pavers (thanks to this forum) in front of the fan as well. South Texas 106 today. The Welsummers are doing great, the Easter eggers have me worried. No comb really and no waddle.


IMG_20220710_195219510_HDR.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20220710_195243440.jpg
    IMG_20220710_195243440.jpg
    494.6 KB · Views: 2
  • IMG_20220611_132459410.jpg
    IMG_20220611_132459410.jpg
    628 KB · Views: 1
T

Tram

Chirping
Jan 8, 2019
33
88
81
Marion, TX
My Coop
My Coop
Stephine said:
That sounds great! Just remember that a fan itself doesn’t cool chickens down, because they don’t sweat. Fan over ice or wet sheets will cool the air. But if you put a fan to blow under your coop, where it’s probably cooler than the surrounding air, you might actually be heating that space up to ambient temperature.
I have found it works well to water the ground under the coop and leave it alone. The deep shade there keeps the ground nice and cool…
Click to expand...
I would disagree with the wind comment, only because I have hens who will sit down in front of the fan. Even when the mister is off because humidity level is to high.

Wind blowing over their combs and waddle removing the heat.
 
T

Tram

Chirping
Jan 8, 2019
33
88
81
Marion, TX
My Coop
My Coop
khind said:
Does anyone know if it would be a bad idea to stand each bird, one at a time, in cool water, maybe just below the neck, for a few minutes just before bed time for added relief if they seem hot? It's certainly hot enough for the feathers to dry quickly.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the idea. Did this tonight with some of my hens. Today was 106 and wanted to give those sqwuaking the most on the roost a cool down. Within minutes, no more panting, some actually closed there 👀 and went to sleep.
 

Similar threads

BYC Project Manager
    • Like
  • Poll
Official BYC Poll: How Do You Keep Your Chickens Cool In Summer?
10 11 12
Replies
119
Views
12K
Happy hen lover
Happy hen lover
N
    • Like
    • Love
Temperatures are rising!! How do you keep your chickens cool in the coop, run, and or brooders?!?!
2 3
Replies
23
Views
2K
3KillerBs
3KillerBs
BYC Project Manager
    • Like
    • Love
Topic of the Week - Managing Your Chickens' Molt
4 5 6
Replies
57
Views
6K
Farmgirl1878
Farmgirl1878
analyticalblonde
    • Like
It's Full on Summer...Tips to Help in the Heat!
2
Replies
14
Views
3K
Minidinochickens
Minidinochickens
agold23
    • Love
    • Like
The Summer Of Chicken - A Somewhat Long Personal Reflection on my Chickening Experiences
Replies
7
Views
2K
Stellasmomma
Stellasmomma

New posts New threads Active threads

Top Bottom