Greetings ~
It regularly tops 100*F and we will have a few days here and there where the temps will tip the scale at 107-110 here in the summer. Winters go down into the teens (although last year we went down to 0*F for several days). I'm not so worried about the cold - I know how to heat things... but summer... Anyway, looks like it's going to be One More Year (again!) before I get some sort of poultry. So, here goes my barrage of questions regarding heat. Thanks in advance for any advise or comments.
For those of you who do hot weather chickens, how do you keep them cool? Probably I won't have electricity where the coop will be, but if it looks like I really will need electricity, I might haul some out there. But I would prefer not to.
If I can find chicks in July, would it be better to start chicks indoors where it's cooler and then start moving them outside in Sept when the temps come back down into the 90's?
Will chickens go into water to cool off if they have access to a stock pond that is partially or all shaded in the summer?
Being that we live in the High Desert, we have sand at least 10 ft down. If I keep all the sand well watered, will that help them keep cool? Do you think that will raise the humidity too much and cause more stress? Our summer time humidity is usually in the single digits. I've heard that chickens will dig a hole in the ground to get to cooler temps.
Do ducks or geese handle the hot weather better? How about cold? They are on my "some day" list, but if they handle the weather better, I might start with a few geese or some ducks first.
Thanks so much! PS Love looking at everyone's chicken pictures! Keep posting - it really helps to keep my dreams alive!
Q on heat vs chickens vs other barn yard poultry
kmom246, I recommend guinea fowl. I have them. They require minimal feed and no protection from heat. Chickens and guineas need a secure roosting bar ...... 5 ft off the ground. It has to be covered and they need to be able to see out (window!) plus they need to get out of severe winds so the shelter needs 3.5 sides. They'll be able to dodge the coyotes. If you're thinking of chickens ..... I highly recommend the Pit Game variety. They are much like guineas , fly terrifically, eat very little, provide biddies (chicks) for entertainment and lay 2-4 / week eggs in the spring and summer. This breed is the MOST likely to provide the owner with 8-12 chicks / hen / spring. I lived in Carson City (you may recall). I've had about 50 breeds of chickens over the past several years.