Blog by Peter Wilson
July of 2013, at a family reunion on Kawaii Island of Hawaii, I fell in love with the Momma Hen and her 13-baby chicks. It didn’t take long for me to decide to get chicks after returning home to Vallejo. It was early August; I ordered a few chicks to the Wilson Villa and Garden. That began the Wilson Flock of Cluckers.
As the summer heat will be upon us soon, it is essential to ensure the well-being of my feathered flock. Chickens are particularly sensitive to high temperatures, and heat stress can lead to decreased egg production, health issues, or even fatalities. Here are the steps I have taken to keep my chickens cool during the hot days.
Provide Shade
Shade is an essential component for keeping chickens cool. I have two trees that provide shade. It took time for the trees to grow tall enough, since the trees were little sticks when they were planted.
Ensuring Proper Ventilation
Good airflow is vital in reducing the temperature inside coops and enclosures. I have a fan hung in the coop window pulling out the hot air. I don’t have a current photo of the coop.
Hydration is Key
Chickens require constant access to clean, fresh water, especially during summer. I have an electrolyte mix, to enhance their fresh, clean water. I also provide frozen fruit in a pie pan for them. They also get frozen watermelon quarters to start the hot day.
If the temperatures become unbearable, I use additional cooling techniques to provide relief: Place frozen vegetables or ice packs in their enclosure area. I install shallow pans filled with cool water for chickens to step into and add a brick to allow them to step in to cool off. They also have a water feature to step on whenever they choose (seen in the photo first above).
You can visit Wilson Flock of Cluckers on Facebook to see more. My UC Master Garden video project is posted there.
thumbnail photo: "Run Chicken Run" by Martin Cathrae is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.