Make sure you are keeping your chickens cool this summer!

Chickens handle freezing winter weather much better than summer heatwaves. Because they cannot sweat, they rely entirely on panting, spreading their wings, and radiating heat through their bare legs and combs to stay cool. When temperatures spike, keep a close eye out for signs of heat stress like open-mouth panting, wings held far away from their bodies, lethargy, or pale combs.

Your number one line of defence is fresh, ice-cold water. Chickens will actively refuse to drink warm water, so place multiple waterers in deep shade and toss in frozen water bottles to keep the liquid refreshing. You can also create instant relief by hosing down the dirt under their favourite bushes, allowing them to dig into damp, cool earth. For a fun cooling station, fill a shallow tray with two inches of water and drop in some frozen peas to create a chicken wading pool, which cools them down quickly through their feet.

When it comes to feeding, skip the cracked corn and scratch entirely during heatwaves because digesting heavy grains raises their core body temperature. Instead, feed them their normal pellets during the cooler mornings and treat them to frozen watermelon slices or cucumber halves in the afternoon. Finally, open up all your coop vents for maximum airflow and clean out any deep bedding so heat doesn't trap inside overnight.

With these quick adjustments, your flock will sail right through the summer months.