It's a challenge!
The "coop" is open and airy within the chicken run. So it isn't "cooped up."
For the water we use those 5 gallon buckets in the shade and put ice bottles in them. But the chickens also drink from their wading saucers. Those stay cooler because they're in the shade and not...
Yeah, we're in the desert so we deal with the heat for half the year. It's reading 112F right now and expected to be the same all week.
We run misters too when it gets over 105. In fact, the wading saucers aren't used until then either. If we use them when it's below 105, then they'll get too...
Aaah... the bigger the bottle, the longer it lasts. Also keeping the buckets in the shade helps too.
We also have shallow trays of water for them to cool themselves (in the shade) and they drink from those too.
I use 5 gallon buckets for water. You can see the cup that gets attached to a drilled hole (left bucket).
When it's real hot, I put frozen 2 liter bottles of water inside the bucket to help cool the water.
Having the bucket insulated like your cooler idea would be even better.
I came on here to ask a similar question. I've been using Country Companion All Flock pellets for a few years and am happy with it.... except that the price keeps climbing higher.
I saw a similar feed at another store: Nutrena Naturewise Flockshield All Flock pellets that costs less so I was...
Not sure of your situation but it sounds like your chickens are loose in the yard? Have you considered having an enclosed run inside the yard? We have a 10' x 20' enclosed run but we let them free range in the late afternoon until they return to roost. Then they get locked in the run again.
Interesting article. I agree with the premise mentioned briefly in the article of letting the chickens build immunity. Let nature do its thing. Seems better in the long run than putting that vaccine crap in our food supply. Hickman's thinks the answer is in mRna vaccines.
You two that both have 2 roosters, how is that working? Does each rooster have their own flock or are they all together?
I have a young rooster (11 weeks) that is really sweet and I'm hoping he'll get along with my established Roo.
Hey there, AZ friends. It's been busy here with the new chicks, and visiting family. The chicks are now just over 9 weeks old, so they certainly don't look like chicks anymore.
I'm going to try to attach a video of them I just took. Maybe you can confirm if my suspicions are correct that, of...
Last couple times I tried to get the buckets they were sold out. Guess word has gotten out. I still have some others I also use for other stuff... like storing the barley seed I sprout for them.
The ISA browns have such huge eggs I decided to only hatch their eggs. Of course now I don't know...
I think another thing with our summer heat is to not overdo keeping them cool. If they get misters and wading pools when it's just 90 F then they won't be able to handle 110.
They always have shade but I think it's when it reaches around 95 or higher that I'll time the misters to go on for 10...
I saw a number of people having issues with chicks purchased in AZ. Many were dying even with experienced chicken keepers. (This was on FB). Some were conjecturing that the high death rate could be from the vaccine.
This year I chose to hatch our own eggs so I wouldn't risk introducing...
I also use the 5 gallon buckets with the cups and add frozen bottles. But when it's really hot, I put out a small wading pool in the shade each morning. They tend to drink from that just as much. So that is something to consider when wondering if the nipples will be ok without cups -- if you...