Mary Allen
Chickens like it warm, but not hot. They cannot sweat and cool their bodies with cold water. They also reduce energy consumption and prefer to enjoy a cool drink outside.
The optimum barn temperature for adult chickens is 18 to 22 degrees, as can be read in the Aviforum training documents on “poultry husbandry”. It becomes critical at values of over 32 degrees, which also occur outside in the run, especially in summer.
Too high a barn temperature reduces the feed consumption of the chickens and results in lower performance. Because less water is stored in the eggs, their weight decreases. The increased respiration at high temperatures also leads to a lower CO2 content in the chickens’ blood. And due to the reduced calcium intake, the shell quality of the eggs deteriorates.
Chickens with a larger body mass, such as the Brahma, are particularly sensitive to excessive temperatures. The reason is: Chickens cannot sweat and thus cannot break down their body heat through perspiration. They cool the body down with cold air or cool water. On hot days, they raise their wings so that the air underneath cools the body. A dust or sand bath in the cool earth also helps to lower the temperature. When kept outdoors, chickens seek out even the coolest spot under a bush or in the shade of a tree.
It is advisable to take precautionary measures when the daily maximum temperature exceeds 30 degrees. When it is very hot in the chicken coop, better ventilation with a higher airspeed is required. The heat produced by the animals is better dissipated with a ceiling fan or circulating air fan, for example. Depending on the construction of the poultry house, the watering of roofs or forecourts with the garden sprinkler also reduces the temperature.
Moisture for Supple Skin
A wet sack hung up or fleece in front of the air opening can also ensure a more pleasant temperature in the chicken coop in the summer heat. Reducing the sun’s rays also means less heat. And a reduced light intensity in the barn also means that the animals remain calmer and therefore generate less heat.
Today Gardena also has a flexible air cooler system on the market. The fog nozzles are attached to the edge of the pergola or parasol and attached to the water tap. The nozzles emit a fine mist which, according to the manufacturer, can cool the ambient air by up to six degrees Celsius on hot days. The product has not yet been tested in chicken farming, but higher humidity is beneficial for the chickens. In economically oriented poultry farming, the humidity is deliberately regulated by installing a humidification system.
The optimal humidity for poultry is between 50 and 70 percent. Too low humidity promotes dust formation and increases irritation of the mucous membranes. It even encourages feather pecking and cannibalism, especially when raising chicks. In the plumage change phase, higher humidity is better than air that is too dry. The Aviforum writes in the teaching aid for poultry farming that the skin remains more supple with higher humidity and it is easier to puncture the feathers. This knowledge is also common among hobbyists. And if no fogging system is installed, breeders take a dip in the water, or the chickens are deliberately given the pleasure of grazing in the rain.
Additional Water Points
The most important factor in regulating body temperature is water. If the water supply is interrupted, the feed intake is also reduced. The growth of the animals is inhibited and the performance of the laying hens drops. In the worst case, it can even lead to kidney damage, bluish comb discoloration, and drowsiness. That is why caution is required, especially when transporting poultry in midsummer. Only a sufficient supply of air in the transport boxes ensures the necessary cooling. On very hot days, regular water changes also help the hens so that they can always drink cold water and thus cool their bodies down.
Chickens that graze in a large run avoid unnecessary exertion and prefer additional watering holes outside, especially on hot days. Siphon drinkers with feet are suitable for setting up in the chicken yard. Depending on the model, you can be the proud owner of such a drinker for an investment of around 40 francs, which, with a capacity of 30 liters, will certainly not lead to water shortages in the chicken run.
The animals drink from the bowl underneath, after which the drinking trough is automatically refilled. The drinking bowl is positioned at the correct height for most adult chickens. The rule of thumb when keeping chickens is to give feed and water at the chickens’ shoulder height. Especially with young animals, the drinking height must always be adjusted to their body size.