Beating the Heat: Keeping Your Flock Cool During the Dog Days of Summer 🐔☀️

If you’ve spent even one Alabama summer outside, you already know the heat doesn’t play around. And if we’re sweating before 9 a.m., just imagine wearing a feather coat all day!

One of the questions I get asked the most this time of year is, “How do you keep your chickens cool?” The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple changes can help your flock stay comfortable, healthy, and laying eggs—even when the temperatures start climbing.

Here are a few of my favorite summer chicken-keeping tips from here at Suni-Bear Farms!

🌬️ Keep the Air Moving

Fresh air is one of the best things you can give your chickens during the summer.

I like to place a fan where it can circulate air throughout the coop. Notice I said circulate—you don’t want the fan blowing directly on your chickens all day. The goal is simply to keep the air moving and prevent hot, stagnant air from building up inside the coop.

Think of it like sitting on your porch with a nice breeze. It just makes those hot days a little more bearable!

💦 Give Them a Chicken “Pool”

This is one of my favorite tricks because it’s simple, inexpensive, and the chickens absolutely love it.

Fill a shallow tub with cool water and place a flat cinder block in the bottom.

Why the cinder block?

Chickens help regulate their body temperature through their feet. They’ll often stand on the block with their feet in the cool water, helping them cool down without having to swim (because let’s be honest… most chickens aren’t interested in taking a dip!).

It’s like their own little backyard spa day.

🥤 Add Electrolytes

Just like people, chickens can become dehydrated in extreme heat.

I always keep electrolytes in one of my water sources during those really hot stretches. I personally use my 5-gallon gravity waterer for this so the flock always has easy access throughout the day.

I still keep plain, fresh water available too, but having an electrolyte option gives them a little extra boost when they’re working hard to stay hydrated.

And remember—clean, cool water is one of the most important things you can provide during the summer months.

🌞 Create Plenty of Shade

Shade can make a world of difference.

Whether it’s a shade cloth, tarp, canopy, or another type of sun shade, giving your chickens a place to escape the direct sunlight helps reduce heat stress.

Watch your flock throughout the day and notice where the sun moves. You may find that adding shade to one side of the run during the afternoon makes all the difference.

Your chickens will thank you for it!

❤️ A Happy Flock is a Healthy Flock

Summer can be tough on our feathered friends, but with a little planning, they’ll be much happier through the hottest months of the year.

My summer checklist looks like this:

• ✅ Keep air circulating with a fan.

• ✅ Offer a shallow cooling tub with a flat cinder block.

• ✅ Add electrolytes to one water source (I use my 5-gallon gravity waterer).

• ✅ Provide plenty of shade throughout the day.

• ✅ Always make sure fresh, clean water is available.

Taking just a few extra minutes each day can help prevent heat stress and keep your flock healthy all summer long.

From one chicken keeper to another—stay cool, drink lots of water, and don’t forget to check on your feathered friends. They’re counting on us!

Until next time,

Brandie

Suni-Bear Farms

Here at Suni- Bear Farms we advocate for agriculture, spread kindness like wildflowers, and showing God’s love one flock at a time.