HEAT WAVE!

I don't need an outdoor thermometer to tell me that we are having a heat wave.  Since we all work outdoors, I can tell from my family members faces and the dial on the AC that it is hot hot hot.  And then there is always the reliable barometer of how long can the dog stay outside before he, too wants to share the AC.  

But normally our chickens, ducks, cows, goats, etc. don't have the luxury of coming inside to cool off.  How do we keep  them from being heat stressed during an extended period of super hot days?  First, it is important to not overreact.  Animals tend to handle the heat better than people do.  Animals will take their activity level down a few notches and be less active during the heat of the day.  This morning my goats were ready to take a siesta around 10:30 AM as the temperature climbed past 80 degrees.  

Here are some steps we take on our farm to lesson heat stress on the flocks and herds.  



1.  Supply some shade.  In the chicken area, we hung a tarp over a corner of the fencing and put a roost bar under it.  




2. Place  water pan  in the shade and a pan of food, too.  This gives the chickens a place to go that is not in the sunlight and not in the coop which can  also keep heat in.

3.   Inside the coop, I make sure the water is not getting too warm.  A fan keeps air circulating, which keeps the heat from building.  Frequent checks to make sure the young pullets in the grow out pen  are not over heating will help too.  I have a crate ready to move them to the shade outside if the temperature climbs to high, but they are safer where they are in the building.  A lot of things on a farm are a tradeoff aren't they?

 





4.  If possible, avoid cleaning around the animals during the heat of the day.  Allow them to rest and sleep through it. 

5.  For herd animals like cows, sheep and goats, place their hay in the shadier area.  We don't have much grazing area and our ruminants are fed mostly hay.  So I can adjust where I put the hay to keep them a bit cooler.

6.  Treat the flock to something cool like watermelon when available.  It's sweet taste, vitamins, minerals and water content will help them endure the hot temperatures.  You can also make a large flock Popsicle by
filling a container with water, adding herbs and greens and freezing it.  Place the frozen treat out in the shade and watch them chip away at the icy treat.







7.  Our rabbits enjoy a frozen water bottle to cozy up to during a heat wave.


8.  Don't over feed grain during a heat wave.  The extra energy in grain can make the animals even hotter.  I cut back the amount they get during the summer months. 




As with any good management practice, heading off a problem before it happens can lead to a happier end for all.  If you take steps to keep your animals cool before they show signs of heat stress, you have a better chance of your flock and herd surviving a heat wave.

If you have any tricks or tips to keeping your farm animals cool, please share!