In the summer coop your chickens can suffer from the heat and increased stress and this leads to profound changes in their behaviour. So here are 5 essential strategies to help your pets maintain a good spawning rate:
1. Ensure abundant shade and fresh air
The first step is to create natural or artificial shaded areas: trees, shrubs, shade cloths or pergolas. Choose only essences that are non-toxic and possibly non-resinous as plants: native broad-leaved trees, berries, actinidia and fruit trees that do not require treatments are fine.
In the night shelter, if closed, place bottom-hung windows on opposite sides to promote air circulation, avoiding drafts but maintaining circulation, especially at night.
2. Fresh water always available
Chickens drink up to three times as much in summer, so always ensure fresh, clean water. If the summer is particularly hot, change the water 2 times a day, adding ice cubes on hot days. You can also think of a drinking system connected to a tank or to the water supply. You can contact our assistance to get advice on the construction of the drinking system of your chicken coop in summer.
Remember that the hierarchy of the chicken coop also applies to watering, so to make sure everyone drinks properly, you can place several drinkers in shady spots to reduce competition between animals.
3. Change the feeding of animals
If you use a home-made seed mix, cut down on warming grains (corn, oats) and use hopper feeders raised above the ground for maximum hygiene. You can supplement with fiber-rich summer fruits and vegetables, so you can help your pets drink more; Avoid fruit that is too watery such as melon and watermelon so as not to encounter liquid feces.
You can also offer frozen fruits and vegetables to slowly melt in the chicken coop, they are refreshing and nutritious.
4. Sand baths
Did you know that chickens don’t sweat? They cool down through sand baths or by staying in the shade with their beaks wide open and wings spaced from the body. An area with sand or soft earth in which to scratch, dig and roll, strictly in the shade, helps to control pests and better withstand the heat.
5. Clean, insulated and ventilated chicken coop
Remove litter regularly: Wet faeces and overheating from heat promote the pooling of ammonia, pests and mould.
If there are many animals, keep the litter box a couple of cm thick and change it frequently. Insulating and insulated materials in the construction of the night shelter help to contain temperature fluctuations and to make the animals better withstand summer nights.
TO SUM UP
| Strategy | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Shade and ventilation | They help lower body temperature |
| Fresh water in several places | Prevents dehydration and competition |
| Summer feeding | Improves hydration without stress on the digestive system |
| Sand baths | Lower levels of stress, cooling and antiparasitic action |
| Cleaning and insulation | Reduces diseases, pests, temperature fluctuations |
The chicken coop in summer requires targeted actions: shade, water, suitable diet, sand baths and constant cleaning. This ensures that your chickens stay fit, lay eggs regularly and live in a healthy environment. Remember that Novital is by your side with its series of feeders and drinkers to offer all the comfort to your animals and allow you to raise them in the most suitable way!
