Chickens are very sensitive to high temperatures, much more so than cooler temperatures. While winter chicken keeping does pose its challenges, summer chicken keeping also presents a whole new set of issues. Chickens have a normal body temperature around 105-107 degrees F, so keeping them cool in hot weather is extremely important. These 8 ways a chicken stays cool are simple measures you can take to help your flock stay happy and healthy this summer!
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Disclaimer: I am not a scientist or a veterinarian and any health related advise in this post comes from my own personal experience and research.
For more tips on caring for chickens during extreme weather conditions, check out my post on Regional Chicken Keeping Considerations.
The natural occurrence of digestion within the body generates internal heat. When chickens are trying to stay cool, reducing the amount of internal heat that is generated can be helpful. That means, the less a chicken eats the less digestion that has to take place. However, a chicken can not just stop eating during hot weather, otherwise all of their other body functions would suffer.
Chickens may or may not regulate their feed intake themselves. There are many opinions on the topic of adjusting feeding rations during the summer. Until I do more research and figure out what would be the best way to regulate summer feeding, here are just a few ideas to think about:
We know this from experience. Do you get hotter when you are working on a hot summer day (even if it is in the shade) or do you get hotter when you are laying in a hammock on a hot summer day? The same goes for your chickens!
The big issue with this is the option to free-range your chickens which stimulates activity or to keep them confined, which in theory, would not stimulate activity. In my opinion, free-ranging is the better option and here is why I think that:
As you can see, this argument can go either way. You will have to figure out what works best for you and your flock. I find that supervised free-ranging works best for me. My flock is used to free-ranging, so when they can’t free-range they get cranky. I try to let my flock free-range for a little bit each day. When I can’t supervise them, I put them in their enclosure and they relax on the perches. I have noticed that my chickens stay less active and are more content after they have free-ranged for a little bit.
Cool dirt is always refreshing on a hot summer day, at least for a chicken it is! There are varying opinions on whether dust bathing helps keep a chicken cool or not due to the fact that they are being active when they dust bath. My chickens love to dust bath in hot weather, so I feel like dust bathing is just another way that they help themselves stay cool. Here is my opinion on dust bathing.
This is another common sense fact that we often overlook. A shady spot in the heat of the summer can make a world of difference for staying cool. Your flock will appreciate it if you consider providing these shady spots:
Chickens are picky when it comes to water (I think we would be too if given the option). They would rather dehydrate themselves than drink warm water. That being said, they also don’t prefer super cold water! In general, chickens prefer water that is around 55 degrees F. During the summer, they appreciate slightly cooler water. Here are some tips for encouraging your chickens to stay hydrated this summer.
Feeding treats does stimulate digestion which produces heat, but there are some ways you can overcome that issue. Treats that are hydrating and nutritional will be beneficial for your flock when fed in moderation. Here are some tips that I follow when giving my chickens treats in the summer:
A cool chicken coop is especially important for when your chickens go in to roost at night. Nobody likes to try and sleep in a hot, stuffy room, and your chickens don’t either! Some people consider letting their chickens roost out in the enclosure but I don’t recommend that. For one, your enclosure would have to be immensely predator proof!
Two, you are encouraging a bad habit that could be hard to break come fall and winter. Finally, if your chickens are coop trained, they won’t want to stay out and roost in the enclosure! So here are some ways you can keep your chicken coop cool this summer:
This last option is not a chicken’s favorite option. In general chickens try to avoid getting completely wet. Feathers take a long time to dry, and if you have ever seen a wet chicken, they don’t look like they are enjoying life at that moment! However, cool water can help bring down a chicken’s body temperature on a hot day.
My chickens do not use the water trays, shallow pools, or misters that I provide for them, so I use water when I notice that one of my hens is showing signs of heat stress or is panting excessively. I get her feet wet with cool water and also wipe down her comb and wattles with a cool rag. If your chicken is seriously suffering from being over heated, you may consider getting her completely wet in a cool bucket of water (make sure you help her dry off afterwards though!).
Hopefully these eight ways a chicken stays cool will help you keep your flock happy and healthy this summer! A chicken’s thermoregulation system can be enhanced when you know how they prefer to try and stay cool during the hot weather. Refreshing dust baths, hydrating snacks, cool water, and plenty of shade are all ways a chicken can stay cool during a hot summer day. By providing ways for your flock to stay cool, you can help them stay productive this summer and avoid heat related ailments like heat stress. Your homestead flock will appreciate the measures you take to help them stay cool this summer!
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Have a great summer and stay cool with your flock!
by Alexa
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