Breaking down and putting a window A.C. in coop. Am I crazy?

[Eggcellent8]

It has been extremely hot here the past 2-3 weeks! Almost every day was in the triple digits and I have done everything I can to keep my girls alive. Frozen water jugs, fan, shallow chicken swimming pool, melons/juicy fruits, watering their run, fresh water, and the list goes on. Today we remembered that we had an extra window air conditioner in the basement and wasted no time in putting it up in their coop. I know that in general, people don't recommend heating/cooling their coop because it keeps them from adapting to their environment, but when it is this hot and dry there seems to be no other choice.
The plan is to lock the girls up in their coop during the hottest part of the day and run it at 85-88 degrees to allow them to cool off, then let them back out in the evening when it's not quite as hot.

Is this a good idea? Any advice on how to best use the A.C. unit (so that they can stay cool, but not over do it) would be helpful. Also, if there is anything else I can do to help them stay cool, that would be helpful to know, too.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ZaksGarden]

I'll tell you this is one of the hottest and most humid summers I can remember. ( I am in North Carolina ) Our highs this week are in the upper 90's but a week or so ago we were in the 100-102 range 3 days in a row. My chickens were panting, and not near as active as normal but they did fine. I hosed off a shady area, they dug down in the cool dirt and bedded down. I did keep a large pan of water for them to stand in but they only did it a couple of times..I think for the most part chickens are pretty resilient and wouldn't need an AC unit, unless you have a very heavily feathered breed.

 

[JackE]

We had our share of 100 degree days around here. I let the chickens out early in the morning. For the most part during the day, they just hang out under the coop or the bushes behind the coop. They know what they need to do on a hot day, i.e. stay in the shade, drink plenty of water and not do any unnecessary running around. I would NOT think of keeping them locked in the coop all day with an air conditioner. What if the air conditioner craps out from the constant running it's going to have to do to keep a chicken coop cool? I imagine you have all the windows/ventilation closed so you can keep the air conditioned air in. Depending on the size of the coop and how many birds you have, you could be looking to cause more harm then good. It's just so unnecessary. The birds do fine on their own. So yeah, I'd say you are crazy.
Jack

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I live in Kentucky and a few weeks ago the high was 108.9 degrees in the shade. This went on for over two weeks. Now it seems like a cold front being 98 degrees in the shade. I have a flock of 30 chickens and they made it just fine luckily in the hottest weather I think I've seen so far. During the hottest part of the day they stayed in the shade digging in the ground. They also stayed in the barn a lot too. I did provide a fan for more airflow. As long as they have lots of water and shade they should do fine. I do have to say I think the air conditioner might be a tad too much and might do more harm than good.

 

[wekiva bird]

I guess i'm crazy too. I put ac in last summer i'm glad i did . A freind of mine lost 3 hens in the heat 1st of july the Heat Index was 120 in columbia s.c.. Today so far it is the Heat Index is over 108.

 

[janinepeters]

OMG, and I've been feeling sorry for my flock (and myself) when it hits 90 degrees up her in Mass!! That's downright chilly compared to what you have to deal with!

 

[Eggcellent8]

I tried using it yesterday, and my chickens seemed to be happier when it was hotter and they were free than when they were cooped up and it was a few degrees cooler.

I guess I am crazy!

But I must say though, if it was 120 here it would not seem like such a bad idea.

Our highest has been 106 and now that I think about it, the temperature does not seem high enough to make an A.C. unit necessary. Thanks guys!

 

[lonesomerider]

A word of caution with your air conditioner: clean the filter often....daily would be best I tried an AC the first year in OK and it lasted only one week.....I forgot about all the "stuff" in the air of a coop and the removable filter was completely blocked. About 40 chickens involved; you may have less.

Since feeding Fermented Feed to mine (this is 4 years later), they handle the heat much better, drink much less water, eat less feed, and range out in the pasture until noon and then go back in the evening. Their favorite "cool spot" during the day is under my four horse trailer, which is parked where there is almost always a breeze going through.

Good luck. Would much rather have a blizzard any day than this God awful blast furnace that just keeps on coming.

 

[dmassie]

1

 

[rusht21]

we have standard cochins here in yuma az and we are planning on a swamp cooler to get them through the summer. 115-120 is not uncommon so this is the first year with the heavy feathered breeds; my other chickens and peacocks did fine last summer with misters running 24/7, but am worried these guys will not fare as well, we'll see and i will post what happens! thanks for all the great information you all post!