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Excessive heat warning keeping chickens cool.

 
pollinator
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I don't spray mine but they enjoy the mister. I have it on a timer so I can set it to run for a couple hours in the afternoon and it will turn off on its own. Between that, a very shallow pool to walk through, shade, frozen water pan, and refrigerated food scraps, they seem to be doing okay.
 
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I wish my chickens would tolerant a mister.  When I had a mister they would avoid it like the plague.  We have very hard water, so they are hard to maintain, but definitely help cool the temperature down.  If they would use it, it would be worth it because I'm not normally home during the day.  
 
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My understanding is that the mister will cool the surrounding air, so the chickens needn't be directly in it to have some positive effect, much like a swamp cooler. Obviously this is only true in dry climates. I have a mister fan combo that's powered by a rechargeable battery. I'm hoping it will be enough this year. When it's really hot my chickens don't like to leave their coop, so I tend to leave their frozen treats inside.
 
Stacy Witscher
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So it's looks like at least a week of over 100's here. Today the high was 104, the next two days are likely 110. I have my mister/fan battery charging. The whole summer I have been adding 2-2 cup ice cubes to their water at 3:00. They seem to drink a lot more water if it's cool. I often freeze bananas for them as well. Anyone else have suggestions that have been working for them.
 
Jen Fulkerson
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Hi Stacey I have a little kiddy pool I put about 3" of water in. On super hot days I put a frozen 2 leader bottle in to keep it cool all day. Most of them just drink out of it, but some will stand in it.   I also put a frozen 2 leader bottle in there water. I have found it keeps the water cool all day.  Frozen veggies.  I stop feeding them scratch. I read since it's full of carbohydrates it causes the chickens body to heat up when they are digesting it.  I have also changed the grains I ferment.  I used to do oats, wheat, and barley.  I can't remember why, but read I should only do oats in the summer.  
Probably the most important thing is when I add chickens to my flock I make sure it's heat tolerant.  It sounds pretty obvious, but I didn't always think of such things.  I have a couple of Salmon Faverolle.  They are so cute, and sweet, and have made it for about 5 summers now.  They are the ones I see standing in the pool.  I always feel sorry for them they are so fluffy with very small comb and waddles.  Still they have managed to survive.
Good luck to you.
 
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I strung a mister though the tree branches by my coop.  If temp hits 90 I hook the hose up to it.  Really cools down the area.

I have a second coop that I run a sprinkler nearby.  It is in the pine trees and the temps really drop after that for several hours.  The girls definately like it.  Seems to bring bugs out also and it is fun to watch them chasing the bugs.
 
Jen Fulkerson
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Different year same problem.  It hasn't been very yet, but I just checked the 10 day forecast and all 10 day are over 100 two of the days are supposed to be 113.  They have plenty of shade, a fan on 24/7. Today I rinsed out the pool. I put cement blocks in it, and a corrugated steel panel over it to keep it in shade.  I don't know if it will help, but my thought is the water will keep the cement blocks cool, and they don't have to get wet.  We will see if they use it. I need to freeze some water bottles.
Good luck everyone.
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