Hi Homesteader,
Midway through July and the animals need as much attention as the garden does.
Heat is the thing I think about most with our chickens in July. Chickens don’t sweat, they regulate temperature through their combs and by panting, and when it’s really hot, they slow egg production, eat less, and can genuinely suffer. It doesn’t take dramatic action to help them, but it does take consistency.
A few things I do every July with the flock:
Fresh cold water, multiple times a day. This sounds obvious but it makes a real difference. On very hot days I’ll add ice to the waterers in the afternoon. You can also freeze treats, berries, corn, herbs, in blocks of ice for them to peck at.
Shade and airflow matter more than a cool coop. If your birds have access to a shady corner of the run or can get under a tree, they’ll use it all afternoon. Make sure your coop has adequate ventilation, stagnant air in a hot coop is harder on chickens than the outdoor heat.
Watch for signs of heat stress. Panting with wings spread, lethargy, pale combs. If you see this, get cold water in front of them immediately and consider cooling the coop with a fan.
If you’re newer to keeping chickens and want a full picture of what to expect through the seasons, my guide to raising backyard chickens covers the whole year including summer management.
And if you have goats, July is the time to make sure they have fresh browse, clean water, and access to shade. Goats are generally good at regulating themselves but they hate direct sun in peak heat. We move ours to a shadier paddock rotation in July.
One more thing: if you’ve been thinking about adding animals to your homestead and haven’t pulled the trigger, summer is actually a great time to plan. You can have everything set up before fall chick season or a fall kid purchase. The animals section of the site has guides on chickens, goats, bees, ducks, and more to help you figure out what’s the right fit.
Stay cool out there.
Until next week, Gretchen
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Happy Homestead,
Gretchen
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