From Pullet to Layer: Feeding Your Flock Through Summer Heat

Water first: Fresh, cold water is the most important intervention. Add a second waterer in hot weather. Some keepers add ice to waterers at peak heat.
Shade: If the run doesn't have it, create it with shade cloth. Birds standing in full sun on a 95°F day are at real risk.
Ventilation: Open all coop vents fully. In extreme heat, a battery-powered fan inside the coop can help when nighttime temperatures stay high.
Electrolytes: Adding a poultry electrolyte supplement to the water during a heat event helps birds recover faster. Hen Boost is specially formulated to support the nutritional demands of production and long-term flock health.
Frozen treats: A frozen watermelon half or frozen vegetable scraps gives birds something cooling to work on during the hottest part of the day.
Watch your heaviest birds: Heavy breeds like Brahmas, Cochins, Orpingtons, and Jersey Giants tolerate heat the worst. Slender Mediterranean breeds like Leghorns handle it best. If you have a mixed flock, keep a closer eye on your big fluffy birds when temperatures spike.

Chicken Keeping Basics| Coops & Housing| Flock Health| Egg Production

August 03, 2026

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Nicole Jones

For Nicole Jones, agriculture isn’t a career — it’s a calling. She grew up in the industry, starting 4-H at age five showing dairy cattle and serving as a dairy ambassador — the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the land. That passion carried her through over five years as an agriculture educator and FFA advisor before joining Skagit Farmers Supply, where she leads the Country Store Academy workshop series. A working farmer herself, Nicole brings both classroom expertise and boots-on-the-ground experience to every program she builds.

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