Caring for Chickens in the Summer
Inside: Here are some tips for caring for chickens in the summer. Learn how to choose the right breed and adapt to different weather and climates.
There are different things you need to think about when it comes to caring for chickens in the summer, or different seasons in general. The different weather and climates of your area are some of the things to take into consideration when picking out a chicken breed.
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Caring for Chickens in the Summer
We are going through a heatwave here right now which makes this post timely. As you can guess keeping fresh water on hand for your chickens is going to be extremely important in the summer, just like it is for humans and other animals.
Chickens dissipate excess heat from their combs, wattles, beaks, and feet. Meaning, any surface area that isn’t covered in their built-in down jackets! Therefore, chicken breeds with large combs and wattles are able to cool themselves more readily than those with small peacombs.
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It is easy to prevent heat stress most of the summer here in Nova Scotia. But every once in a while the heat gets up there! Learn the signs of heat stress, and make sure you are doing everything you can to prevent it.
Signs of Heat Stress
- panting – breathing with beak open and tongue moving up and down
- standing with wings out, away from the body
- decreased appetite
- pale or discolored waddles and/or combs
Ways to Keep Chickens Cool in the Summer
Sometimes we think we are doing everything and then our flock shows us a weak point, we're human and mistakes are made. We learn and try again.
Provide Shade
This is one of the most simple but crucial measures. Ensure that your chickens have a shady space to retreat on hot days. Create additional shade by draping a black shade cloth over the run. Another option is to string one of these cool shade canopies between posts, fences, or trees.
Cold Fresh Water
Provide a constant supply of cold fresh water. On the hottest days, that may mean refreshing their water a few times per day. Some chicken keepers add ice to their chicken waterers to keep them cool. Keep their waterers in a shady and readily accessible location.
Nipple waterers attached to large water jugs are a great option for making sure they have water all day long. Chickens catch on to using them quickly!
Cool Treats
Provide cold, refreshing, high-moisture treats such as watermelon and other fruits and veggies.
Try freezing some treats! We like to give our girls frozen peas, corn, watermelon chunks, and chopped frozen strawberries on hot days.
There are many options for treats for chickens this summer! From watermelon to protein-packed mealworms, spoil your feathered friends this summer.
Ventilate the Coop
It is always recommended to provide good ventilation inside a chicken coop, but even more so in hot conditions. Ensure the coop has screened (but predator-proof!) openings that allow for a nice cross-breeze.
Keep the Coop Clean
During hot conditions, keep the coop as clean and tidy as possible. Reduce the bedding layer inside the coop to no more than 2 inches deep to prevent trapping in heat.
Some chicken keepers use a “deep litter” method, which allows the bedding material (and chicken excrement) to form a deep pile on the coop floor. The built-up material acts as an extra layer of insulation in the coop. This is something that you should only be doing during the winter.
Sprinklers
Adding moisture to the air or ground around the coop and run will lower the surrounding temperature. As airborne water droplets evaporate, it immediately cools the air. You'd be surprised how much some chickens enjoy this!
Dirt Bathing Space/Materials
I have Bantam Brahmas who have mastered the art of ditch digging. These ladies have made their own dirt bathing spaces all along the edge of their run. When I toss in more bath bathing materials this is where I throw it.
Why do they dirt bath so much? It helps cool them down! In hot weather, a chicken digs into the cool soil to lower its body temperature. It digs, snuggles into the ditch, scoops with its beak, tosses dirt into its feathers, rolls, repeats, and then shakes off. Or they might even just lay down and go to sleep, I've had a scare or two from sleeping chickens (and quail!).
If you free-range your chickens they are going to go where they are cooler naturally. They will dirt bath in materials they find that will cool them down. They'll stand in, and drink from puddles. Can't find your chickens? Look in your shrubs where it is going to be cooler.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keeping Chickens in the Summer
What temperature is too hot for chickens? Some chickens can struggle when temps reach over 90 degrees and stay there for extended periods.
What is the average natural lifespan of chickens? The average lifespan of a chicken is about 5-10 years.
Can I give chickens ice cubes? Just like us, hens appreciate a nice cold drink of water when the weather's hot. You can always pop a few ice cubes in their drinker in the morning to keep it colder for longer, and make sure it's placed in the shade.
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