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When you start getting everything together to begin raising chickens, it can be challenging to know what is overkill and what’s necessary for your birds. Do you need to go the extra mile and set up an entire climate control system?
Chicken coops do need fans in warmer climates. Installing fans helps with circulation and will keep your adult birds happy and healthy. Not only that, but doing so will help keep your birds at the ideal temperature, especially during hot months.
It would help if you considered what will give your birds the best opportunities, so read on to find out why circulation is essential to raising healthy chickens.
What Temperature Do Chickens Prefer?
You should always keep your chickens in areas between 70 and 75 °F (or between 21 and 24 °C) for best results and longevity. They are hardy birds but prefer to moderate temperatures.
Chickens’ behavior can be affected by the temperatures in which they’re kept. They can become more aggressive or territorial if kept at hotter temperatures and may develop feather-plucking behavior (source).
Ideal temperatures will make your chickens happier and less likely to be destructive or hurt other birds.
Does Temperature Affect Egg Production?
Temperature can absolutely affect egg production in chickens. It is crucial to keep the temperature consistent for your birds if you’re hoping to get them to lay high-quality eggs.
Agricultural companies have gotten chicken egg production down to a science, and temperature is the key to high egg production and egg quality. Extreme temperatures might even stop your birds from laying entirely (source).
Stressed birds are less likely to produce good eggs, and temperature is one of the most significant stressors that chickens experience. You need to take steps to keep your birds happy and healthy.
One of the best ways you can do this is to climate control the coop where your birds spend a lot of their time and where they lay their eggs. You can do this with fans, air conditioning, and heaters, depending on the season.
Do Chicken Coops Need Air Conditioning?
Chicken coops do not need air conditioning unless you live in a sweltering environment. In extreme heat conditions, you should invest in an air conditioning unit or pick chicken breeds that are heat-resistant.
If it is too hot, certain behaviors can crop up, or your birds can get hurt. Panting, in particular, can be a problem with temperatures being too hot. Panting releases many moisture particles into the air, and this can quickly dehydrate your birds.
Couple this with an outdoor water bucket with water at air temperature, and you could have a hazardous situation on your hands. Birds are less likely to drink from the hot or warm water, and these temperatures won’t offer them any relief either.
Air conditioning in the coop will keep your birds safe while they lay eggs as well. Birds have to stay in the nesting boxes for long periods, and being trapped in extreme temperatures can be fatal (source).
Fans
Fans, in particular, can be a great option, but you need to keep them up and out of your birds’ reach. Curious chickens might want to investigate the fan and get seriously hurt.
Fans will help keep air circulating and are a lot easier to find than air conditioners for your coop. You can even modify them to create a small air conditioning-style set-up.
For example, you could set up the fan behind a bowl of ice and let the cool air circulate. The same tricks that improvise air conditioners for humans can help keep your birds cool and happy.
A lot of folks here in Southeast Texas use solar fans like this one (link to Amazon). If the coop is too far away from an electrical outlet this can be a quick and easy solution.
Water Cooling Systems
You could also set up a water-based cooling system (link to Amazon). Misting your birds can keep their temperatures down. As the mist is dispersed it will drop the temperature of the whole area.
However, you shouldn’t do this constantly and should not do this in your coop. Excessive moisture in the coop will allow bacteria and diseases to thrive. Combine that with your birds’ waste, and you’re in an awful place.
Do Chicken Coops Need Heaters?
If you live in a freezing area, you need to get your chickens a heater. This will prevent injuries and keep your birds alive through very harsh winter weather. It will also make sure their water and food do not freeze.
Heaters are necessary for a coop if your birds are living in an icy place. This will keep them safe overnight in the coldest parts of the day and prevent water from freezing. While your birds are asleep, they are very vulnerable to the cold and heat, so you need to care for them and take steps to keep them warm.
Depending on the temperature outside, your birds should also be kept inside and not roam in the snow and wind. Chickens can be very vulnerable to frostbite, and losing toes is debilitating to them. They lose their ability to investigate the world (source).
Choosing the right heater for your birds and coop is crucial to ensuring they are safe and happy.
Select the Right Heater
However, with heaters, you need to ensure proper ventilation so that fumes do not get caught in the coop. This could cause your birds to suffocate. Do not use a space heater that runs on gas; the carbon monoxide build-up could be fatal.
Floor-based heating pads can be great to keep your birds warm during the cold months. However, you should always make sure the heating pads are not too hot. Additionally, ensure there’s no flammable bedding near your birds.
Your birds could burn their feet if it is too hot. Fires in chicken coops can be horrible, especially if the fire gets to your birds’ waste. It would be best if you took specific measures to make sure your birds are safe.
Final Thoughts
While chickens seem like hardy animals, they are also sensitive to significant swings in extreme temperatures. You might need to supplement their coop with temperature apparatuses, like heaters or air conditioners. These will help your birds live long and healthy lives.
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