With a massive heatwave affecting millions this weekend, we hope you're staying cool and hydrated! One question we've been getting is 'how do the chickens keep cool in extreme heat?'. Great question! This is something we wondered as well before committing to the care of the hens we have now. Although perfectly adapted for extreme northeastern winters, very hot summer days are not what these chickens are made for.
As of 8am today, the temperature was 88 degrees F, with a feel of temp of 100. It will get hotter as the day, and the weekend, goes on. Despite it being very hot, the hens were hanging out together inside the coop this morning, looking quite unbothered by the heat and humidity. Their human caretaker, on the other hand, was very much bothered.
Our hens have two water sources, one of which holds a gallon of water, which get refreshed daily. To both I added large amounts of ice to maintain a cool water temperature throughout the day. Over half the backyard are is shaded and the chickens have a favorite tree to hang out under, where it's even shadier. To disperse body heat, chickens dig deep holes in the ground then lay in them, the fresh soil below being much cooler. In the summer, the coop is in a fully shaded area, making it surprisingly cool inside, especially overnight (and probably why the gals were hanging in this morning). As a special treat, we freeze fruits in a block of ice and let the chickens peck at it while cooling off. For this morning's treat, we froze watermelon, strawberries, and tomatoes.
As of 8am today, the temperature was 88 degrees F, with a feel of temp of 100. It will get hotter as the day, and the weekend, goes on. Despite it being very hot, the hens were hanging out together inside the coop this morning, looking quite unbothered by the heat and humidity. Their human caretaker, on the other hand, was very much bothered.
Our hens have two water sources, one of which holds a gallon of water, which get refreshed daily. To both I added large amounts of ice to maintain a cool water temperature throughout the day. Over half the backyard are is shaded and the chickens have a favorite tree to hang out under, where it's even shadier. To disperse body heat, chickens dig deep holes in the ground then lay in them, the fresh soil below being much cooler. In the summer, the coop is in a fully shaded area, making it surprisingly cool inside, especially overnight (and probably why the gals were hanging in this morning). As a special treat, we freeze fruits in a block of ice and let the chickens peck at it while cooling off. For this morning's treat, we froze watermelon, strawberries, and tomatoes.
