Why I leave my chickens alone for hours during the day in the heat:

i noticed that whenever i go to the run after any amount of absence, they all come from wherever they are and crowd at the gate waiting for treats or to get out….this activity is NOT helpful & since i do NOT want to feed them during the day in this heat (produces more internal heat), even adding more ice cubes to the drinking water after the 10:30 11 am water change is not worth it to me to disturb whatever they are doing to beat this heat …which is pretty much sitting on the ground (hosed down each morning) in the shade under the bushes or near any other vegetation (seems to be cooler in vegetation shades areas). i do not want them to freak out about anyting – so they don;t get to free range during the day either. it is already VERY VERY HOT at 10:30. i did what i could, the mister is on in the coop run and will see them in the evening. so far so good – & i AM glad i got breeds that are considered heat tolerant.

will see how the summer goes – the real heat is still coming