Five things your chickens do NOT need this summer (2024)

While it is important to provide shade and cool water as temperatures rise, there are several things NOT to do with your chickens as the weather warms up. Here are five things your chickens don't need this summer.

Chicken keepers always seem to worry a lot more about their chickens in the cold winter months than in the summer, but in reality the heat is much harder on chickens than the cold.Chickens do well at temperatures down to zero and even below.

With just a dry, draft-free house filled with nice bedding to insulate it, grain scratching before bed, and an optimal number of chickens in coop, they can keep themselves quite warm.

But as temperatures begin to rise and approach 80 degrees or so, the chickens begin to feel the effects of the heat.

Although chickens certainly appreciate a little extra attention in the summer, there are also some things they don't need.

Provide warm weatherin the form of cold water, electrolytes during an extreme heat wave, plenty of shade, perhaps fans if you live in the far south, a ventilated home and hydrating treats are all beneficial.
But there are a few things you should really avoid.

Five things your chickens do NOT need this summer

1.No crab pellets or dried corn.

Whole grains and dried corn are substances that create heat in the body as your chickens work to digest themscratch grainsshould only be reserved as a delicacy during the cold months.
Much bettersummer delicaciesinclude chilled watermelon, cucumber or popsicles.

2.No gravity, PVC or drinking nipples.

In summer, the chickens cool off by standing in shallow water and dipping their heads and combs in the water.Their buds act as radiators to remove excess body heat.

They also release body heat through their feet. So it's crucial that they can submerge their tops and feet to help them cool down.

If you use gravity or nipple drinkers, consider adding some extra water to tubs in the summer for your chickens to stand in.

I liken a nipple water bowl to drinking from a water fountain or through a straw... if you're really hot, just drink a big glass of water. Don't drink through a straw!
Therefore, give your chickens a large tub or bucket of cold water from which they can have a tasty snack.

3.You don't need to dip, mist or spray your chickens. You should not let them "swim" in your pool.

Chickens do not take water baths. They cool down by holding their wings out of their bodies and fluffing their feathers so air can circulate.
Getting them wet only defeats this purpose and takes away their ability to cool naturally. The chlorine in a swimming pool is not good for chickens or ducks, and contrary to the images you see circulating on the internet, chickens cannot actually swim and will likely drown once they become drenched.
While spraying the top of your coop or run can help cool things down, don't spray your chickens directly or submerge their entire bodies in water. Just the feet are enough!
Chickens are also chilledtake dust baths. Wriggling in the cool soil can help them cool down, so make sure you have a nice dust bath for them somewhere in the shade.

4.Nobody chases the chickens!

Chickens that are already dealing with heat stress will not do well if they are chased or harassed by your children, dogs, etc. Let them relax, nap under a shady bush and just take it easy and stay cool.
Likewise, it's not a good idea to carry your chickens around when it's hot.
As previously mentioned, they fluff their feathers to stay cool, so lay them down and let them deal with the heat in the best way possible.

5. Do not lock your chickens in the coop during the day.

I'm often asked by new chicken keepers if they should confine their chickens to the coop for a few days after they are brought outside for the first time, when they leave the incubator, or when they get their first flock of pullets or pullets.
Sometimes they are told that it is a good idea to let the chickens get used to where they sleep and lay their eggs.

This is aterrible medead. Let me repeat that. This is aHORRIBLEidea. In summer it is too hot in the garden during the day. Not only that, but you're left with a huge mess and some pretty boring girls.

When we lived in Virginia, our chicken coop often hovered around 90 degrees Fahrenheit at dusk when it was time to unlock - and that was with all the doors and windows open all day! Even here in Maine, the temperature in our coop can reach the mid-80s in the heat of summer. It's way too hot for chickens to survive.

Your chickens will quickly discover where they call home. There is no need to lock them up. They need fresh air, exercise and sunlight and should not be confined in the garden.

Keeping these few simple tips in mind will help your chickens get through the summer more comfortably.

For more tips about daylight saving time:

Help your backyard chickens beat the heat

Five best summer treats

How do chickens stay cool in the summer?

Warm, hardy chicken breeds

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