The summer heat is upon us, make sure to monitor your chicken coop's temperatures as they can often get as hot as a parked car. If you can, install fans and have windows to keep air circulating. Try to have the chicken's nests in the shade and keep an eye on them. You can also freeze water in small water bottles and leave one in each nest and large one gallon sized frozen jugs can help bring the temp down in the coop when placed near a fan.
Make sure they can bathe in the dirt and have shade. I often hose down the ground around the coop with the garden hose when the temps are over 80 degrees F. This helps cool down the dirt and the humidity seems to cool off the girls. Be sure to offer your chickens plenty of cool water. We use a water cooler for their water, so that keeps the water cool. Here's what we use: Water Cooler Chicken Waterer
You also want to offer some electrolytes in the water all summer as this helps them keep up on minerals and vitamins often lost in the heat. A 1/2 tsp of sea salt stirred into a gallon of water will help too. The vitamins and electrolytes are available at farm supply stores. The dry powdered stuff lasts longest. It's a good idea to keep some in your avian first aid kit, too.
NOTE: If you want to put together an avian first aid kit, check out this post: Avian First Aid Kit
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