How to Keep Chickens Cool

While backyard chickens are more tolerant of summer heat than commercial chickens that are grown in controlled settings, backyard chickens can overheat when temperatures reach extreme levels. 

With feels-like temperatures reaching above 100 degrees some days already, we’re there, Mississippi! So, if you have backyard chickens, these tips from MSU Extension backyard poultry specialist Jessica Wells can help keep your feathered friends cool this summer:

Provide shade. Be sure your chickens have some form of shade throughout the day, whether they are in a coop or allowed to free range.

Provide fresh, cool water daily. Water that is cooler than the air temperature helps lower their body temperature. It is okay to change the water throughout the day to keep it cool and clean. Do not add ice.

Add ventilation. Opening or adding windows to the coop along with fans or misters can help keep the air temperature cooler.

Frozen treats can also help keep chickens cool but be cautious with these. When it gets hot, chickens will choose to eat less so make sure they are still eating their regular, balanced diet. Any treats you give should also be nutritionally valuable. Feeding a balanced diet early in the morning when temperatures are not as extreme helps ensure chickens get the right amount of nutrients through their regular diet.

Freezing cut-up fruits and vegetables in water-filled ice trays is an acceptable treat for chickens.

For more information about backyard chickens, contact the local MSU Extension office and download MSU Extension Publications 3624 and 3036, “Poultry Beginnings: Raise Your Own Backyard Chickens” and “Choosing the Right Breed for Your Backyard Flock.”