As a conscientious chicken owner, you understand the significance of providing optimal conditions for your feathered friends, especially during the scorching heat of summer. One crucial aspect often overlooked in maintaining the health and well-being of backyard chickens is the provision of adequate shade. In this article, we’ll delve into why shade is essential for your chickens, especially during hot days, and how you can ensure they have access to it in their coop and run.
Why Do Chickens Need Shade?
Chickens, like many other animals, are susceptible to heat stress and even heat stroke when exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures for a long time. When it gets unbearably hot for us humans in the summer, the chickens will be showing signs of suffering too. They spread their wings out and contort themselves to expose as much of their body area as possible to help to cool down. They pant to regulate their body temperature. The first time they did this I was worried, until I realised why! And it doesn’t even need to be extreme heat or a heat wave. When the temperature hits late 20s it’s hot enough for the chickens to seek shade.
Heat stress can diminish egg production as well as endangering the health of your flock.
Shade and water
A shaded area provides a respite from the summer heat. The best way for chickens to start to regulate their body temperature and start to cool down is to get away from the hot sun. They need plenty of water during the heat of the day, as taking in fresh cold water can bring their body temperature down.
The Role of Shade in Chicken Coops
Chicken coops need to be located in shade to protect your birds from the sun’s harsh rays, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Direct exposure to sunlight, particularly in the summer months, can elevate the temperature inside the coop, making it uncomfortably warm for your chickens.
The coop needs to be well ventilated to let the hot air out of the coop to make it bearable for the chickens at night. If it stays warm at night where you are then consider carefully how you might cool down the coop when the sun drops.
Insulation is important in coop design to keep the birds toasty warm in the winter, but it also has a role to play in the summer. A well insulated coop will be protected from getting too hot, just ensure that there is adequate ventilation, because as the temperature rises the heat can get trapped inside a well insulated unventilated coop.
There is an interesting irony with shade and cooling chickens in the summer, especially in my climate. Which is that during the winter months it is important that the coop gets exposed to the sun to provide warmth. Deciduous trees or temporary shade tarps or awnings are both solutions to this problem.
Shade and the Chicken Run
The run also needs to have plenty of shade, it should not be located in full sun. However it’s not a good idea for it be in full shade through all the hours of daylight, chickens need some natural light to get their vitamin D exposure, just like us humans. The best way for them to get natural light through the hot summer is to have morning sun. An East facing run would be a great idea to let the chickens have exposure to the sun in the morning, as the sun warms up the run will naturally become more shaded.
How to Create Shade in Chicken Coops and Runs
There are several effective ways to provide shade in your chicken coop and run:
1. Shade Cloth or Structures
Install shade cloth or erect shade structures over the coop and run area to block direct sunlight. This will create a cooler environment for your chickens to retreat to during hot weather.
Shade cloth can be any kind of tarpaulin, even an old shower curtain could work, just something that will block out the sunlight. If it is a breathable material it will be better for the air flow through the coop and run, but anything that can provide the shade is the first priority.
A shade structure could be a repurposed or reclaimed item something as simple as:
- a wardrobe
- a playhouse or wendyhouse
- a piece of timber
- a dog house
- a picnic table
Haybales can also provide shade as long as they are situated to cast shadow from the sun (i.e. if you place them in an arc from an easterly to a westerly direction there will always be some shadow on the north side of the hay bales).
2. Deciduous Trees
Planting deciduous trees strategically around the coop and run can provide natural shade during the summer months while allowing sunlight to penetrate during the winter.
Assess your site carefully, trees planted just outside of the run may be better than planting them within the run. This is because the trees will grow bigger and bigger next year and the year after, they may get too big for your run. Also planting them outside means that the chickens will not peck at the young trees as they are starting to grow. The leaf fall into the run will provide food and interest to the chickens in the autumn.
3. Positioning of Coop
Consider the location of your coop and run. Placing them in areas with natural shade, such as under large trees or on the north side of buildings, can help keep them cool. Make use of any natural or man made features that already exist where you are rather than spending effort and energy creating shade!
4. Provision of Cool Water
Ensure your chickens have access to plenty of cool, fresh water at all times. Consider adding ice cubes or frozen gallon jugs to their water bowls to help keep it cold during hot days.
5. Dust Baths
Provide areas with cool dirt for your chickens to take dust baths. This not only helps them cool down but also aids in keeping their feathers clean and free from parasites.
FAQ
Can chickens be in direct sunlight?
Chickens can be in direct sunlight for short periods of time, in fact they need some sunlight for their vitamin D. But they will overheat if it is too hot or if they have no way to escape from the direct sunlight to a more shady area.
What is the best shade for chickens?
The best shade is a deciduous tree with thick foliage, that provides shade in the summer, forage in the autumn and access to sunlight in the winter.
Having said that any shade is better than no shade! And if you need to wait for your tree to grow always provide some sort of shade in the heat of the summer.
Does the chicken run need to be shaded?
It is a good idea to at least have the chicken run partially shaded, so that there is an area where the chickens can get respite from the sun. It does not need to be fully shaded.
Do chickens need shade during the day?
During the summer, in hot weather they will need some shade during the day. When and where to provide shade depends on your location and your birds. Watch them and see how they react to the sun and the heat. In most places the morning sun is less intense than the afternoon or evening. So if the shade arrives a little later in the day it may be enough for the chickens.
Do chickens need shade in winter?
Generally not in winter, chickens need shade to give them a break from the hot summer sun. In winter they like to dust bathe in the winter sun, full shade in the winter is not optimal for your chickens.
Conclusion
In conclusion, providing adequate shade for your chickens in their coop and run is essential for maintaining their health and egg production, especially during hot weather. By implementing simple strategies such as shade cloth, positioning the coop strategically, and ensuring access to cool water and dust baths, you can create an environment that promotes optimal health and comfort for your feathered friends. Remember, proper care and attention to their needs, including shelter from the sun, are among the most important things you can do as a chicken owner to ensure the well-being of your flock, both now and in the years to come.