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Baby It's Cold, or It's Too Darn Hot


Weather can impact chickens, like a lot of animals. So, when it's too hot or too cold, you will need to take extra steps to protect your birds.




Too Darn Hot

  • Water - Have plenty of water for the chickens and use Electrolytes. The electrolytes are huge for the chickens. Check out UltraCruz's Electrolytes. UltraCruz has a store in Paso Robles (for locals) if you need it asap. It's higher quality than the packets you get when they are chicks. You can add ice to their water, although it might melt fast and not move the mark that much.

  • Shade - Whether it's a tree, shade cloth, or tarp, make sure that the chickens have shade for the afternoon.

  • Ventilation - With the coop, you always want some ventilation, but in the Summer open up the coop's windows and doors if you can.

  • Fan - Speaking of ventilation, add a strong outdoor fan. I use a fan when it's in the 90's or up.

  • Misters - You can add a misting kit to your run/coop, or you can buy a smaller type that hooks up to a hose and then place by a fan. You can also buy a misting fan, but those can be pricy. I turn misters on in the mid 90's.

  • Treats - I will up the treats during the heat and do hydrating treats like watermelon or romaine, which they love. I also will do defrosted blueberries when they are still pretty cold in the afternoon.

  • Lay Off Scratch - This will create heat in the body and that's the last thing they need. Keep up protein and feed though.

When it hits the 100s, it can kill chickens, so that is why you want to prepare for the hot Summers before they hit. It is normal for them to pant, but if they look lethargic, you've got a problem.


I use a small mister that attaches to a hose.


Baby It's Cold Outside

  • Heater - You can buy a heating pad (for animals), or use the brooder as a heater. The brooder I bought has a heater side and I stand it up in the coop. Chickens are fine in the 40's, but at freezing temps I use a heater. Others may not do this and there chickens are fine. There feet are the most susceptible to frost bite, so keep that in mind. I recommend getting a timer so it goes on and off automatically.

  • Heater for Water - If you live where it get's icy, you may want to get a water dish heater online.

  • Feed More Scratch - Give the hens more carbs to help with heat creation.

  • Straw - You can lay out straw in the coop as it holds heat more than shavings. I personally don't like straw as I found it messy and was finding straw for months, but I definitely would for 30F under.

  • Plastic Sheeting - My coop is supposed to be big enough for 6 chickens, but it isn't. Well some of it is that the year old hens are possessive of the roosting area, so the younger birds perch in the run area of the coop for the night. This concerned me with the temperatures dropping. So, I got at Home Depot plastic sheeting with 6mil thickness (the one linked is more than what I paid, I got a smaller amount for around $36). I then cut out the sheeting to the size of the wire ares of the run of their coop and used a staple gun to attach. I made sure that some areas had some small gaps at the top to allow ventilation. This was a hair brained idea of mine and the next day, I could tell that the heater's warmth was now able to stay in full area of the coop.

  • Heating Perches - You can also purchase heating perches. I haven't used this myself.



One note to finish on is that when you are selecting your chick breeds is to look at if they can handle heat or cold. Orpingtons, Australorps, and Plymouth Rocks are known to handle colder temps. I believe Easter Eggers, Plymouth Rocks, and Leg Horns are known to handle heat, but really does any animal like hot days? Regardless of the breeds, you still want to take steps to ensure your chickens stay safe and healthy.

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