Keeping Chickens Cool When It’s Hot and Dry

Chicken keeping in the summer months can be a challenge, but there are many things you can do to ensure your flock stays cool and happy. While temperature and humidity vary from state to state, these tips and tricks will work for everyone!

Water

Fresh, cool water is important for many reasons, but it is essential during the hot, dry summer months. Keeping your flock well-hydrated is necessary to maintain egg production and to ensure your birds are happy and healthy. 

Fans

Hanging a fan inside your coop and run can help keep good air circulation when it’s hot and dry. This can help keep things much cooler for your flock. 

Shade

When the sun is beating down, your chickens need to be able to escape those harmful rays. Providing shade is non-negotiable when you have chickens in the hot months.  Whether your run is naturally shaded by trees or you hang a tarp up for your birds, any form of shade will give your flock some relief! 

Dust Baths

During the hot, dry summer months, a chicken digging down into the ground and taking a dust bath is similar to a human taking a cool shower. Providing a great space for your flock to dust bathe is crucial to them staying cool. 

Good Ventilation

Every chicken owner knows how hot and stagnant it can get inside the coop during the summer months. One excellent way to help your chickens stay cool is to provide adequate ventilation inside the coop. Windows and vent holes are a necessity. 

Frozen Treats

One fun and easy way to keep your chickens cool this summer is to freeze and then feed them their favorite treats!  Mealworms, berries, seeds, anything can be frozen into a fun summer treat! This helps to cool your flock down from the inside out. 

Vitamins and Electrolytes

Just like humans, chickens need more vitamins and electrolytes when it is hot out! Adding them to your waterers during the summer months can help your chickens stay hydrated and in good health.

Wading Pool

Ducks and geese aren’t the only poultry that enjoy a cool wading pool when it’s hot out! Providing a shallow pool for your chickens to wade works wonders on a hot day. Chickens expel heat through featherless areas like the feet, so a wading pool is also a quick way to cool them down. 

Water Misting System

Many people are looking for a more permanent way to keep their flock cool in the hot, dry summer months. A water misting system is an easy way to maintain a cool, humid environment in your run. There are many different brands and lots of good videos on how to DIY them as well.

Less Bedding

The more bedding you have in your coop, the better it is insulated. In the summer, the less bedding you add, the cooler the coop will stay. Additionally, when bedding has chicken waste, it creates heat and can raise the temperature inside the coop as well.  This is where the deep litter method comes into play during the winter months. Keeping your flock’s bedding fresh and minimal during the summer months can be another great solution to keep your coop cool and inviting.