A summertime chicken checklist has different priorities than other seasons. While our chickens still need the same basic essentials and care throughout the year, here’s what you can do to help your flock beat the summer heat.
1. Take Down Winter Barriers Before the Heat Hits
Many backyard flock owners protect their flock from the winter elements by placing straw bales around the coop and run and covering the run walls with tarps or plastic.
These practices can go a long way to helping winter be more bearable for our flocks, but if left on during the warmer months, can quickly turn the coop and run into a sauna. Failing to remove these protective barriers can cause heat stress and heat-related deaths.
The first thing on the summer checklist for chicken keepers should always be removing the winter protection from the coop and run to prevent the flock from overheating.
2. Boost Coop Ventilation to Keep Air Flowing
Chickens need ventilation in the coop to avoid heat stress, and other heat-related illnesses and deaths. Be sure your flock has plenty of good ventilation by ensuring there are enough windows on opposite sides of the coop.
If the coop is lacking an adequate number of windows, consider adding more windows to promote more ventilation and air flow. If this is something you want to consider, be sure to cover openings and windows with half-inch hardware cloth to prevent predators from accessing the coop via an open window or by ripping a window screen.
Even when using hardware cloth to cover open windows, adding additional window screens will prevent other pests, such as flies and mosquitoes, from entering the coop through the wire.
3. Special Considerations for Summer Chick Care
Chicks are usually on the summertime chicken checklist for chicken keepers. A chick’s basic needs differ only slightly from an adult chicken, but they still need to be fed, watered, and have their brooder cleaned daily to prevent disease.
While none of these chores take long to perform, they still require additional time and should be taken into consideration when planning your summertime to-do list.
Summertime heat can be stressful on chicks and young pullets, so be sure to provide plenty of fresh water and shade to keep youngsters comfortable.
4. Trim Weeds to Deter Pests and Predators
Weed patrol may not sound like something to put on a summer checklist for chicken keepers, but unmowed yards and tall weeds are a great way to attract pests, vermin, and predators to your coop and yard.
Routinely mowing and trimming around the coop and run will help prevent unwanted guests from taking up residence in your backyard, make doing chores easier, and give you a more picturesque view of your flock.
5. Create Cool Zones with Shade Cloth or Natural Cover
Providing shade for our flocks is sadly one of the most overlooked jobs on the summer checklist for chicken keepers. Chickens must have shade to help them stay cool and prevent overheating. Without access to shade, chickens are at a high risk of overheating and dying of sunstroke.
The good news is that even if you don’t live in a wooded area, providing shade for your flock is extremely easy with the use of shade cloth. This lightweight material isn’t difficult to fasten to the run walls and roof using bungee cords and grommets for an easy setup.
Shade cloth helps to reduce the temperature in the run by as much as fifteen degrees, while still maintaining a good air flow to keep chickens cool and comfortable.
6. Keep Water Cool, Fresh, and Flowing
Providing your flock with access to fresh water is essential to helping your flock beat the heat.
Dump and rinse water fountains at least twice daily and refresh with cool, fresh water to encourage your flock to stay hydrated. During the hot summer months, adding an extra water fountain to the run is a good idea to ensure your flock does not run out of water.
Adding a few ice cubes to each water fountain will help reduce water temperature and provide entertainment for your flock, as they enjoy pecking at the melting ice cubes.
When refreshing water fountains, be sure to check for algae growing inside them, as algae can make chickens sick. If there is algae present in the water fountain, scrub them out with a bottle brush and hot sudsy water. Rinse thoroughly before refilling.
7. Tackle Repairs and Clean the Coop Weekly
Coop maintenance is another top priority on the summer checklist for chicken keepers. There is no better time to carefully go over every inch and crevice of the coop and run to be sure a predator cannot enter your flock’s enclosures.
Summer is the ideal time to make coop repairs, add onto the run, landscape around the perimeter of the coop and run, and repair concrete.
These jobs may not be the most fun chore on the summer checklist for chicken keepers, but they are necessary to keep your flock in and predators out.
Also, be sure to clean the coop weekly to avoid extra heat in the coop from decomposing bedding.
8. Stay on Top of Pests Before They Take Hold
Pest control is on the summer checklist for chicken keepers as pests are most prevalent during the hot and humid months.
Prevent external parasites from taking up residence in your coop and flock by regularly checking your chickens and perch for these tiny pests.
Want to prevent flies and other bugs from visiting the coop? Planting lavender and members of the mint family can help prevent large numbers of flies from wanting to take up residence in the coop.
9. Stock Up on Bedding While Supplies Are Plentiful
Back in the day when your grandparents raised poultry, stocking up for winter was a top priority on a summer checklist for chicken keepers. These days, many of us have fallen out of that habit, but this simple task can save you a lot of time and money.
While stocking up on a year’s worth of feed isn’t advised, stocking up on your flock’s bedding is. While not all backyard flock owners have a good storage area for bedding, if you are lucky enough to, take advantage of it.
In regions where grain is locally grown and harvested, farmers frequently sell straw by the bale to livestock and poultry owners. Straw is an excellent choice for coop bedding, is usually quite cheap if purchased shortly after harvest time, and will save you money by not needing to purchase bedding during the winter months when prices rise.
Purchasing straw and other bedding in the summer will save you time too, by reducing the need to run out for more bedding every couple of weeks.
10. Offer Hydrating Summer Treats, Not Heavy Grains
All work and no play makes for an unhappy flock and flock owner, so some fun activities to enjoy with your chickens should always be included on the summer checklist for chicken keepers.
The hot summer months are the perfect time to serve your flock some cool and refreshing treats such as chilled watermelon, fresh lettuce from the garden, or frozen blueberries.
After repairing the coop or pulling weeds, nothing is more relaxing than kicking back and watching your flock practically dance with excitement for some treats.
Never feed chickens scratch or an overabundance of other grains (such as wheat kernels or oats) when temperatures and humidity levels rise.
Instead, serve your flock well-hydrated treats such as fresh herbs and greens from the garden, and fresh fruits and vegetables to help them stay hydrated and cool.
11. Enjoy Safe, Supervised Free-Ranging Time
Summer is a good time to allow your flock the chance to enjoy some supervised free-ranging time. Watching your chickens dust bathe in the garden or chase a bug across the lawn is a relaxing way to spend a lazy summer afternoon.
While many predators are not hunting on hot summer days, be sure to keep an eye out for predators and lock your flock in a safe, secure enclosure at any glimpse of danger.
While allowing your flock to free-range, make sure to stay close to them at all times and keep electronics inside to avoid distractions. Also, be sure to move chickens to a well-shaded area if they show signs of overheating, such as heavy panting and holding their wings away from their bodies.
Summertime Chicken Checklist: Final Thoughts
A summertime chicken checklist for chicken keepers is a helpful tool to help you give your flock the best care possible and also to make sure you take a little time to bond with your chickens, too.
This summertime chicken checklist was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. Click here to subscribe.
