{"id":111087,"date":"2024-07-04T03:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T07:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=111087"},"modified":"2024-07-04T08:01:20","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T12:01:20","slug":"cool-your-chickens-with-a-diy-swamp-cooler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/cool-your-chickens-with-a-diy-swamp-cooler\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Chickens Cool With a DIY Swamp Cooler"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to keep chickens cool is top of mind for chicken keepers in summer. While we all enjoy the lazy days of summer, your chickens probably find it very stressful. Chickens thrive in moderate temperatures, so they don\u2019t like it when it\u2019s too hot or too cold. Just like snow, ice and endless days of cold weather can cause frostbite<\/a>, frozen feet<\/a> and respiratory issues, the heat of summer and soaring temperatures can make chickens lethargic and dehydrated<\/a> and, in some cases, cause death.<\/p>\n

If you live in an area that sees lots of heat and humidity during the summer, you can help your flock beat the heat. It\u2019s easy. You just need to cool down your chickens by building a DIY chicken coop swamp cooler. It can help drop the heat in the coop significantly, and that can mean healthier happier birds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hot Weather Affects a Flock<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever watched a flock of chickens lay out on the grass sun tanning, you might be fooled into thinking they\u2019re hardy animals. While some breeds are hardier than others, most chickens are very susceptible to heat stress. Once temperatures rise above 77 degree F or you experience a heat wave, a cycle can begin where the chicken simply can\u2019t cool off.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The first issue is dehydration. Once dehydrated, the chickens may be lethargic, lose their appetites and stop laying eggs. In some cases, their internal organs may begin shutting down or they pant so excessively that they develop an illness or respiratory issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Signs Of Heat Stress<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

For the most part, chickens spend warm weather days taking dust baths, pecking the ground for snacks and just lying in the sun. When those behaviors change to include some of the following, you\u2019re almost guaranteed that your flock members are experiencing some form of heat stress<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Drooping or Lifted Wings<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

A chicken that is overheating will hold its wings away from its body to keep it cooler. Some chickens will also let their wings drop so they seem to drag on the ground when they walk. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Heavy Panting<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

A chicken that is trying to cool off may pant in the same way a dog does. The chicken\u2019s mouth will be open when they pant.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fatigue<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

An overheated chicken is a tired chicken. They may lay down in the shade or in the coop and be much less active.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Loss of Appetite<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Heat stress in chickens may mean they aren\u2019t as hungry. They may eat less than they normally do or you may notice they struggle with swallowing.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Change in Bowel Habits<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

Heat stress in chickens can lead to diarrhea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Egg Quality<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n

In some cases, heat stress can cause eggs to be deformed or stop egg production altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n

AC\/CC<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

A chicken coop swamp cooler can be part of your summer plan for how to keep chickens cool. Along with shade trees, ice-cold water and a clean coop, a DIY swamp cooler can drop the temperature a few degrees so it\u2019s bearable for your chickens.<\/span><\/p>\n

A swamp cooler, aka an evaporative cooler, is a cooling device that uses evaporating water to cool the air. You can buy swamp coolers with different features, but making a basic chicken coop swamp cooler is easy, too. <\/span><\/p>\n

It works by drawing hot air into a bucket. At the bottom of the bucket is a small water pump that pushes cold water through a tube. The tube has holes so the water drips onto a layer of foam that\u2019s wrapped around the inside of the bucket.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As the hot air passes through the wet foam, it evaporates and is absorbed, so the air inside the bucket is cooler than the air outside. The cooled air is then circulated out of the bucket using a fan.<\/span><\/p>\n

A chicken coop swamp cooler is inexpensive to make, and in most cases, it should cost you less than $50 for materials. You may already have everything you need to make one at home or in your yard. They are a great option for a chicken coop because they use less energy than an air conditioner, and a swamp cooler is safe to have in the coop because it\u2019s only made up of a small fan and water pump.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This type of swamp cooler will work best for how to keep chickens cool in coops in dry climates, but you may not find it as effective for how to keep your chickens cool in humid climates as excess moisture in the air can interfere with cooling.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Build<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now that you\u2019re ready to DIY a chicken coop swamp cooler, here is a quick guide on how to build one. First, you need to gather your materials. To build a chicken coop swamp cooler you\u2019ll need the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n