Keeping Chickens in Summer
Do chickens get heat strokes?
Ever-increasing temperatures in the recent years became a challenge not only for people, cats or dogs, but also smallholding animals such as chickens. While waterfowl is less affected thanks to cooling down in different bodies of water, chickens face potential serious troubles with every added degree. As chickens cannot sweat, and coops are rarely insulated or equipped with any cooling, it’s crucial to provide your feathered companions with shade, water and apt ventilation, as well as looking out for signs of potential distress.
A hen which is merely “hot” may be faintly panting, but otherwise will act normally. A hen experiencing mild to moderate heat stress could pant more vigorously. To help heat escape through the unfeathered areas under her wings, she may also hold her wings away from her body and stoop slightly, but otherwise she will behave normally. Although there may not be any immediate risk to chickens acting this way, it’s a warning that further cooling measures for the flock as a whole should be implemented to avoid heat exhaustion.
Hens experiencing true overheating will be panting profusely and hold their wings away from their body at all times. They may be weak, sluggish or even unconscious, with pale wattles and comb. When a chicken displays these signs, it is in immediate risk of suffering complications from heat exhaustion and needs to be rapidly chilled. Place it somewhere cool or submerge its body in a pail of cool (not frigid) water up to its neck.
How to keep your hens safe during heatwaves
- Provide plenty of shade: chickens can get heatstroke easily, so it’s important to provide them with plenty of shade. You can use trees, tarps or even umbrellas to create shade for your chickens.
- Keep their water cool: chickens need plenty of fresh water to stay hydrated in the summer heat. You can add ice cubes to their water to keep it cool for longer.
- Provide a dust bath: chickens love to take dust baths, and it’s a great way for them to cool off in the summer heat. You can create a dust bath area for your chickens by filling a shallow container with sand or dirt.
- Give them frozen treats: frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to keep your chickens cool and happy in the summer heat. You can freeze berries, melons or even corn on the cob for a fun treat.
- Keep their coop well-ventilated: it’s important to keep your chicken coop well-ventilated in the summer heat. You can use fans or open windows to create a breeze and keep the air flowing.
- Provide plenty of fresh food: chickens need plenty of fresh food in the summer heat. You can give them fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden or even plant some herbs that they can eat.
- Keep their bedding clean: clean bedding is important for your chicken’s health and happiness. You should clean their coop regularly and replace their bedding as needed.
Check out our top 3 chicken coops!
The Hen Den Chicken Coop – 8-12 Birds – Natural Wood
- Slide-out floor for easy cleaning
- Easy access ramp
- Water-based fungicidal treatment of wooden parts
- Waterproof asphalt roof
- High-quality materials
- Built to last
- 2 nest boxes
Egg-Center Chicken Coop – 9-12 Birds – Red
- Locking hinged doors
- Nest box
- Felt roof with a tile style
- Slide out metal floor for easy cleaning
- The roof opens for ventilation
- Water based fungicidal treatment of wooden parts
- Predator proof catch on the door
- High quality materials
- Built to last
- Attractive wooden design
- Dimensions: 241 x 92 x 116cm (94.9 x 36.2 x 45.6 inches)
Large Chicken Coop – 9-12 Birds – Natural Wood
- Locking hinged doors, both back and front
- Fox proof catch
- Slide out metal floor for easy cleaning
- Easy access ramp
- Large door (30 x 30cm)
- Adjustable, 4-position vent on top
- Swappable nest box side section
- Additional side door for an optional second nest box
- Compatible with our Compatible with chicken Run XXL (8–12 Birds)
- Water-based fungicidal treatment of wooden parts
- High quality materials
- Built to last
- Dimensions: 120 x 125 (including nest box) x 100cm (3’93” x 4’10” x 3’28”) ( L x W x H )
