reneepren Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I bought one of those outdoor coolers that construction crews use for the hens! Got it used for $50.00. Hooks up to the hose and the powerful fan blows cool air. I positioned it outside the run on the back side of the cube so that it blows under and around the cube and through the run. It works beautifully! It has been terribly hot here, up to 118 on some days, so the girls deserve it. This is the time of year egg production goes down in Arizona. I had my first no egg day last week. But the next day the 8 girls gave me 6 eggs. I am getting a lot of feathers now. Anyone ever heard of moulting in July? Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 What a great idea . Perhaps you're blowing all their feathers off ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi Renee I posted a question the other day about using a fan on chickens. My hubby reckons that because they don't sweat they won't benefit from it as fans work by evaporative cooling of skin and sweat. Chickens pant...not sweat Hmmmm, any ideas on if he's right? He usually is... Jane x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Yeah, chickens can't sweat. A great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomeena Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I have one who is having her moult at the moment, mine just dont like to conform. Why not spoil them, sure they love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yeah, chickens can't sweat. A great idea! Just as well. You really wouldn't want a sweaty hen would you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 They don't sweat, but with the evaporative cooler, the moisture cools the air blowing on the girls. Also I read that since they exude a lot of moisture in their waste, even in winter the more ventilation the better so the fan can't hurt. Of course I also have the radiant flat panel heater I use in the winter, so the fan distributes the heat better then. They seem to love it now with the swamp cooler, hanging out by it more than on my fountain, and much less panting. More eggs too! After losing my broody hen which I thought was from heat exhaustion due to trying to set eggs in the hot cube, I wanted to cool the cube down. I can tell it is markedly cooler in the cube during the day both from feel and from the 2 gallon ice jug taking much longer to melt. Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Aw, lucky girls to have you looking out for them. I find it hard to imagine 118 at the moment, as I'm looking out the window at a grey, breezy, cool London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'm looking out the window at a grey, breezy, cool London ...and now rain, urgh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Yeah, chickens can't sweat. A great idea! Just as well. You really wouldn't want a sweaty hen would you? No, I don't imagine it would be anywhere near as nice to cuddle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I am getting a lot of feathers now. Anyone ever heard of moulting in July? I think my older hen is molting. I'm not sure how old she is. I bought her and a younger one who hasn't started laying yet last month. She was missing her tail feathers and the lady who sold her to me said it was because the rooster was being rough on her. Her tail is growing back, but now her back seems to be going bald! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Mine sometimes feel sweaty when they've been dust bathing in slightly damp soil! Yugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia W Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 .......I'm looking out the window at a grey, breezy, cool London You should come down here to Hampshire, just had the biggest downpour, though I was on my way to Portsmouth at the time and when I got home the place seems to be dry and the sun is out so perhaps we didn't get it here! I like the idea of the fan in really hot weather, though my girls do have a lot of shade in their run and dust bathe under the tree in the run where the soil is nice and cool, perhaps it's because it's a Christmas Tree - sorry about that - couldn't resist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
