Keeping chickens cool- is my plan good?

[aart]

Ice melts incredibly fast.

Not if you use a big block of it. Lasts all day!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[Jlachickens]

This is a little long but I wanted to get in all the details I could think of. Thank you so much in advance for any wisdom you can offer.

So, if you've seen my post history, you'll know that I am keeping my chickens remotely, a small property on Lake Ontario, until we can move out there permanently. You'd also notice that I am super prone to anxiety and overthinking and asking many (possibly silly) questions. The members of this forum have been really kind and thoughtful helping me out so far. So I thought I'd share my most recent concern and ask for some reassurance.

It's supposed to get pretty hot this week, and I want to make sure the measures I've taken are adequate.

The coop thermometer has never recorded an indoor temp higher than outdoor temps-- so it seems like our ventilation is effective. They also have access to a small, protected outdoor area which is about 2/3rds covered in shade cloth (no full sized run yet, but working on it).

This upcoming week, the highest temperature is Tuesday, which will be 88 with a "feels like" of 94. The "feels like" are forecasted to be 83-89 in the next 7 days. These temps are predicted to last from 11am to sunset every day.

It is not practical to drive out to the chickens daily unless absolutely necessary-- if people here think it may be necessary, then I'll definitely take that into account. We just checked on them today (Saturday). The only time I was planning on going out between now and next weekend is Tuesday, the hottest day.

I was planning to put frozen water bottles in the waterer, and frozen bottles (or maybe bigger frozen jugs?) around the coop so they can cuddle up to them if they need to cool off.

I have seen a lot of suggestions regarding hosing down the coop or hooking up fans which require electricity- all a no-go because our property is undeveloped land. They do have a small solar powered exhaust fan in the coop which pulls air in from outside. We've seen on the camera that they have been sitting in front of it sometimes, I assume to cool off.

We purposely got cold-hardy breeds (Orps and Wyandottes) because our temps can get down in the teens here in the winter. But now realizing they probably don't do great in the heat. Thankfully it at least rarely gets much hotter here than this, so if they can make it through this week they'll probably be okay in the long term.

The hottest it's been since putting them in the coop is 85F, and on that day they seemed to do totally fine, with minimal panting and still energetic.

Between the ventilation, shade, fan, and bringing water bottles on the hottest day, do you think they'll be okay? Or should I plan to check on them more than just the hottest day? Thank you so much for reading

I’d say so. They should be ok! Definitely go on hot day. I have Marans, Maran mixes, Wyandottes, Barnevelders, Dominique, Bardrock, and a Red Sex Link. My Marans, Wyandottes, and the layers (Barn/Dom) are struggling with heat the most. It was 97 degrees F in KY real feel 100-103, this seems to continue for a week+ high 80’s-90’s here has been hard. My flock is hanging in there but looking a little poorly at times.

Could you bring a storage tote of cold water to coop to dunk em’ at night? Submerged cold water dunk was welcomed by wyandottes. It’ll be mid 80’s today, my flock can make it through with frozen water, electrolytes, somewhere cooler to hang out and they come out evenings for foraging and cold snacks like frozen watermelon. Poor things struggle but you should be ok! Luckily ON CA is cooler than here and they’ll get relief

 

[FrostRanger]

Maybe keep an eye on temps.
The longer the heat stress continues, the worse off they get. Imagine hot tea or coffee on a hot 90 degree day, it’s the biggest challenge I have is cold water

Good ma'am, you severely underestimate my commitment to good tea

That said, chickens certainly don't share my enthusiasm for hot beverages and greatly prefer cool water heheh

 

[Champers11]

Yeah, they'll be fine. It routinely gets hotter than that here and my birds aren't happy about it but I haven't had anyone seriously struggle and I do have a single buff orpington pullet. I actually think she takes the heat better than my others which are easter eggers and lakeside eggers (basically a designer easter egger from Meyer hatchery. Good birds). I think it's 'cause she's the only one without a beard but i'm a sucker for bearded chickens. What has helped my flock get through the heat is providing several pans of water throughout the run for them to use as foot baths. Since their feet are one of their few exposed areas, getting them wet is one of the more effective ways to get them cooler. I don't think the ice in their water is strictly necessary but it certainly doesn't hurt anything (I have never used ice in their water). Adding electrolytes to their water - make sure they also have another source with plain water, very important - would also be helpful. My birds seem slightly less stressed by the heat when I add it and chilled cabbage, berries or mellon might also be appreciated. As long as they have shade, water and good ventilation, they should be ok though

Edit: it's incidentally 83 outside as I type this....at 9pm....I wouldn't worry too much about those highs

How do you get your chickens to stand in the foot bath? I've put a tray of water in my coop on really hot days, but all they do is drink from it! Their run is a little tricky for me to climb into to put them physically in the water and I've not yet let them out to free range.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How do you get your chickens to stand in the foot bath? I've put a tray of water in my coop on really hot days, but all they do is drink from it! Their run is a little tricky for me to climb into to put them physically in the water and I've not yet let them out to free range.

Some take to it easily, others never want to use it. Let them decide for themselves if they want to use it, if nothing else at least it's an easily accessible source of water.

 

[Champers11]

Some take to it easily, others never want to use it. Let them decide for themselves if they want to use it, if nothing else at least it's an easily accessible source of water.

Thank you - I thought that might be the case. As long as there's no magic trick I'm missing!

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you - I thought that might be the case. As long as there's no magic trick I'm missing!

One trick that I use is to place it under their waterer. If they're thirsty they'll either stand in it and drink or just drink from the bath itself

 

[Champers11]

One trick that I use is to place it under their waterer. If they're thirsty they'll either stand in it and drink or just drink from the bath itself

Ahh, that's cunning, thank you!

 

[aart]

How do you get your chickens to stand in the foot bath?

I had to hold a chicken in the bath.
She didn't care for it at first, until that cool water affected her feet.
I she wiggled and squawked as I held her with her feet in the bath, then all of a sudden I swear she gave a deep sigh and relaxed. After that may of them waded thru it, some never did.

At first I started with ice cubes in the water, until I saw one bird guzzle down that cold water and get an 'ice cream headache'. Chuckles, thought I'd killer her.
Now I just put out large blocks of ice, some will stand right on the ice block, and they can still sip as it melts. Best part it lasts all day.
Hard part might be find room in your freezer to make the blocks.

Electrolytes every few days can really help with heat stress.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[ChookaPete]

How do you get your chickens to stand in the foot bath? I've put a tray of water in my coop on really hot days, but all they do is drink from it! Their run is a little tricky for me to climb into to put them physically in the water and I've not yet let them out to free range.

I tried a shallow wading pool the other day and my chooks avoided it like the Plague! They stayed well away from it with a wary look in their eyes and they whinged at me!

They prefer their water bowl to spill when it gets filled, then play in the puddles next to it. That's their foot bath.