🐔 Hot Chick-en Summer: Keep Your Flock Cool Without Losing Your Mind (Or Your Hens)

🐔 Hot Chick-en Summer: Keep Your Flock Cool Without Losing Your Mind (Or Your Hens)

Temps are rising. Your chickens are panting. And you’re pretty sure your coop smells like regret and wet straw. Yep, it’s officially Hot Chick-en Summer.

As much as we joke, heat stress is no joke for your birds. Chickens can’t sweat (weird, right?) and they can go from a little warm to a lot dead real fast if you're not paying attention. But don’t worry, I made you a ridiculously helpful and slightly ridiculous printable checklist to help you out.

Whether you're new to chickens or just needed a reminder (same), this one’s for you.

✅ Do This: Give Your Birds a Fighting Chance

  • Shade is life. Think tarps, umbrellas, trees, even old sheets. Anything that keeps them out of direct sun.
  • Frozen treats = summer magic. Watermelon, peas, berries, or freeze some snacks in muffin tins with water. Chickens love a DIY popsicle.
  • Electrolytes 2 to 3 times a week during heat waves. Don’t overdo it, but Gatorade-for-chickens really can help.
  • More water stations. One bowl isn’t gonna cut it. Spread the hydration love around the coop.
  • A dust bath = spa day. Make sure it’s dry, shady, and has enough room for your birds to roll and fluff.
  • Fans or misters. If you have power or can run a safe outdoor mister setup, go for it.
  • Check on them mid-afternoon. The hottest part of the day is when things get dicey. Don’t just hope for the best.

❌ Don’t Do This: Learn From the Bad Advice We’ve All Heard

  • “Just spray them with the hose.” Yeah no. Most chickens hate this. Wet feathers can actually make things worse.
  • “Chickens will be fine in the sun.” Not in 95°F plus heat. They’re not desert birds, Karen.
  • “Give them corn, it’s their favorite!” Maybe in fall. But corn raises body temp, not ideal in a heatwave.
  • “Panting’s normal.” It’s not great. It’s an early red flag for heat stress. Don’t ignore it.
  • “They’ll figure it out.” Honestly? They won’t. You’re the human. You’re the A/C.

🧊 Get the Free Printable Checklist!

If you're the type who wants something you can hang up in your coop, shove in a drawer, or tape to your forehead for reference, I’ve got you covered.

📥 Download the free ‘Hot Chick-en Summer Checklist’ PDF here:
👉 Click here to get the printable

It’s bright, bold, funny, and more useful than 47 Pinterest pins about herbal foot soaks for ducks. (Don’t ask.)

🤷♀️ Why This Exists

I started The Pickled Cauldron because I’m a little witchy, a little weird, and deeply committed to helping people feel like they can do this. That includes keeping chickens alive in summer without needing a commercial misting system or a degree in poultry science.

If this post made you laugh and helped you out, share it. Print it. Stick it to a waterer. Tag me. Tell your chicken friends.

And don’t forget:
Stay cool. Stay weird. Stay cluckin’.

— Kimberly
The Pickled Cauldron

📌 P.S. Did you find this helpful?

Follow @pickledcauldron for more chicken chaos, weird witch vibes, and summer survival tips.

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