As temperatures rise, it's important to make sure your chickens stay comfortable, hydrated, and healthy throughout the summer months. Whether you're welcoming a new batch of chicks or preparing your established flock for warmer weather, having the right supplies on hand can make all the difference.
Keep Chickens Cool and Comfortable
Summer brings longer days and more outdoor activity for your flock, but it also comes with challenges such as heat, pests, and increased water needs. Creating a comfortable environment helps reduce stress and keeps your birds thriving.
Create a Dust Bath Area
Dust baths are essential for chickens year-round, but they're especially important during the summer. Chickens use dust baths to clean their feathers and help control mites and other external parasites.
Diatomaceous Earth is a popular addition to chicken dust baths and can help support a cleaner, healthier flock when used appropriately.
Support Young Chicks
If you're raising new chicks this season, maintaining proper warmth during their early weeks is critical.
Don't Forget About Cool Summer Nights
While summer days can be warm, overnight temperatures can still drop significantly—especially for young chicks that aren't fully feathered. Chicks are unable to regulate their body temperature effectively during their first few weeks of life and still require a reliable heat source, even during the summer months.
Infra-Red Brooder Heat Lamps help provide consistent warmth overnight, ensuring your chicks stay comfortable and continue to grow and develop properly. Be sure to monitor brooder temperatures and adjust heat levels as your chicks mature.
A warm, safe brooder setup can make all the difference in keeping young chicks healthy throughout the summer season. 🐥☀️🌙
This is especially important for new chick owners, as many assume summer temperatures eliminate the need for supplemental heat, when cool nights can still pose a risk to young birds.
Ensure Easy Access to Food and Water
Hydration is especially important during hot weather. Clean, accessible feeders and waterers help keep your flock healthy and encourage consistent feeding and drinking habits.
Essential poultry feeding and watering supplies include:
- Plastic 1-Quart Screw-On Jars for feed or water setups
- Poultry Waterer Screw-On Bases
- Plastic Quart Feeder Bases
These simple, durable accessories make daily flock care easier and more efficient.
Stock Up on Poultry Summer Essentials
Whether you're preparing your coop for summer or welcoming new arrivals, having the right supplies ready can help your flock stay comfortable throughout the season.
Poultry Summer Essentials Available In-Store
🐥 Diatomaceous Earth for dust baths
🐥 Infra-Red Brooder Heat Lamps and bulbs
🐥 Plastic 1-Quart Screw-On Jars
🐥 Poultry Waterer Screw-On Bases
🐥 Plastic Quart Feeder Bases
Stop by Ritchie's and stock up on the poultry essentials you need to keep your chickens healthy, happy, and ready for summer. https://www.ritchiefeed.com/
