Keep Chickens Cool for Summer

Copyright (c) 2012 Wedding-Day-Jewelry.com

Summer is the worst time for many animals. The
sun is beating down, the bugs are at an all time
high, and in many locations storms sweep through
unpredictably. For chickens, these conditions
can be deadly if they are not given proper
shelter. The best way to keep chickens safe from
summer heat and hurricane weather is by keeping
them safe in shelter, or their coop. For this
summer keep your flock safe from hot and
unpredictable weather using these tips for their
coops.

Ventilation. For any coop to be successful
during hotter months, you need to ensure proper
ventilation for your flock. If there is no
ventilation within the coop, the air will remain
moist, stuffy, and could be a breeding ground for
harmful bacteria. With any good coop, ventilation
is a must, and a key element to look for when
shopping for (or building) a coop.

Open Wall. It may seem like a strange idea, but
going hand in hand with proper ventilation is an
open wall concept. The idea is to leave one wall
slightly down, giving the open wall, or half
wall, feel. This allows for air to flow freely
within the coop while still providing ample
shelter. If you worry about unwanted bugs
entering the coop, such as mosquitoes, apply a
netting to the wall but be sure it is high
enough that your flock will be unable to reach
it.

Fans. Although not recommended, installing a
small fan towards the ceiling of a coop can
provide plenty of fresh air to chickens. This is
a bit of a riskier item though as fans can injure
chickens if not installed properly or if
installed too low. Before you install a fan be
sure to take all necessary precautions to ensure
your flocks safety.

Shade and fresh water. The best thing for a
chicken that is too hot is access to shade and
plenty of fresh water. For flocks that are
roaming free in the yard, be sure to provide
shade. Shade can be in the form of smaller, less
expensive coops with access to water.

Sprinklers. It may seem like an idea more for
children, but sprinklers can provide much needed
relieve to overheated chickens. During the warmer
days a rotating sprinkler can help water not only
your yard, but can also splash chickens with cool
refreshing water.

Dirt. Going hand in hand with the water idea,
dirt can provide some relieve for overheated
chickens as well. Chickens can sometimes be
found tossing dirt onto themselves in an attempt
to keep cool and ward off bugs. For this reason,
keep clean and debris free dirt on hand for
chickens to play in.

This summer make it a safe and cool summer for
your flock. Proper coops, shade, water, and dirt
will surely help your flocks stay cool, and safe,
this summer.


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S. O'Connor is the owner of Chicken Houses Plus
located in Archer, Florida. In addition to
raising healthy, happy chickens the company also
provides fertile chicken egg incubators, and
Amish built chicken coops. Customer service is
available via Live Chat on
http://www.chickenhousesplus.com


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