Call us: 717-768-0747
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Close
One of the biggest benefits of using a mobile chicken coop is that you can wheel it around your property with very little effort. One of the best times to do that is summer, because it allows you to help your flock control its temperature and stay safe. On top of several other benefits.
But effective summer chicken coop management takes a bit of planning. How do you do it properly, though? When should you move it? How do you do it in a way that benefits your pasture the most?
We’re going to answer all that and more to help you keep your flock cool and safe this summer.
For most flocks, you will not need to move the coop every single day to prevent heat stress, but you do need to know when the temperature becomes risky.
Chickens often begin to show signs of discomfort once the thermometer climbs into the mid-80s. Around this range, many birds will start panting, spreading their wings, or becoming less active, although the exact threshold depends on breed, age, and feathering. Some heavier breeds and older birds may struggle even earlier, while lighter breeds may tolerate slightly higher temperatures.
Because of these differences, it is best to treat 85°F as a general warning point rather than a hard cutoff. Keep a close eye on your flock, and watch for behavioral changes rather than relying only on the number on the thermometer.
You should also monitor the actual conditions inside the coop. Forecasts might call for 79°F, yet a coop placed next to a reflective surface like a metal grain silo can heat up much faster. Using a thermometer inside the coop will give you a more accurate reading of what your chickens are experiencing.
When the heat does rise into the danger zone, take action quickly. Move the coop to a shady spot, provide plenty of cool water, place it on the side of a structure opposite the sun, or if possible, bring the birds into a barn or other indoor shelter. This is especially important for those managing smaller backyard flocks, where limited space and microclimates can cause temperatures to climb rapidly.
Fortunately, these conditions will not occur every day, and you will not need to move the coop constantly unless it is positioned in a location that traps more heat than the surrounding area.
Let’s say you have a solid three weeks of perfect 75-degree weather, and you don’t have any extreme conditions forcing you to move the chickens. How often do you move them to keep your pasture in good health?
Well, we recommend moving the chickens to a new patch every couple of days.
They’ll stamp down the grass, eat the bugs, and fertilize the land, and by moving them to a new patch that’s fairly close so quickly, you’re essentially mowing the lawn, fertilizing it for long-term health, and giving your chickens a bit of a change of scenery.
Of course, how far you can move them comfortably depends on the size of your coop: smaller 6x8 coops and mid-sized 10x12 models make frequent moves relatively easy, while larger 12x12 ones may take a bit more planning.
It’s also easy when you buy the right mobile chicken coop. So, it’s not a burden to move them around every other day or so.
While the heat doesn’t get dangerous until it’s at 85 degrees, that doesn’t mean your chickens want to sit in direct sunlight all the time, and moving your flock more frequently won’t harm the pasture. So, it’s perfectly fine to move them throughout the day, and it could be the right choice.
Prime times to do this would align with the sun’s positioning.
In the morning, get those chickens out to enjoy those first few rays of light, warm up from the nighttime temperature drop, and feast on all the little bugs crawling out on dew-covered grass.
Around midday, when the sun is beating down on them, move them closer to shade. You don’t need to run around all day avoiding the sun as it moves, but getting them a couple of hours of shade during the most intense period is a major help.
Toward evening, heat shouldn’t be a problem. Keep them somewhere safe, and that’s about it.
A good tip to make this easier for you is to plan your coop movements ahead of time. Especially if you’re going to rotate them between spots throughout the day for their comfort. Moving a mobile chicken coop is easy, but it’s still not something you want to overcomplicate.
You know your property better than anyone. Think about the best shady spot to move them to that is near their morning spot. Likewise, if you’re going to move them again, choose a shady spot that is also fairly close to where they’ll ultimately end up.
This way, you can move them from one location to the next with minimal ground to cover, but maximum results are achieved.
While we just said it helps to pre-plan your coop locations, don’t put the coop in the same spot every time you put it there.
Let’s say you’re going to move them throughout the day to three different spots for 3 months of summer. If you park the coop in the same position every day at each spot, the chickens will tear up those spots quickly.
You can use your flock as pasture maintenance, and all you have to do is slightly change up where you park it each time. That ensures that the chickens wear different parts of the pasture evenly, and they don’t overgraze the grass.
Moving the chickens is great, but just like us humans, there’s something the chickens need much more than shade. That’s water.
The chickens need to stay hydrated. Even if it’s a beautiful 75-degree day, they’ll need to constantly replenish fluids to stay cool.
Make sure you have your mobile coop equipped with a high-quality bell watering kit and provide ample clean water throughout the day.
You should never overstuff your coop in any condition, but in the summer, it’s even worse. Chickens get close together to heat up. You’ll see them do this in the winter.
Well, if you pack them close together in a coop that’s too small for your flock, they’ll heat up despite it being too hot for them to need that.
Smart summer chicken coop management takes a bit of coordination and planning, but with the right setup, it doesn’t have to be too much of a hassle.
We hope these tips gave you a clear idea of when to move your coop, how to keep your flock cool in the heat, and how to maintain a healthy pasture throughout the season. At Chicken Ranger, we build coops that are easy to handle and comfortable for your chickens.
Give us a call to find the right setup for your needs and to keep your flock safe, cool, and comfortable all summer long!