Homestead How-To Fighting the Heat
Six Steps for Staying Cool
Beating the Heat Without Major Construction
By Maggie MacHale
The height of summer can bring many wonderful things, from backyard barbeques and spending time with family to outdoor adventures and relaxing days in the sun. However, this time of year can also bring high temperatures that are not only uncomfortable but can pose serious risks to yourself and your animals.
Heat stress isn’ t just a human concern; it can affect poultry and livestock as well. Heat stress occurs when the body temperature exceeds the regulating capacity, which can quickly escalate to life-threatening heat stroke.
The good news is that many cooling options are available, affordable and can often be set up in just one weekend.
Step One: Evaluation
You are likely already very familiar with your land, but it is also important to walk the property when temperatures are highest, usually in the afternoon. This can help identify common exposed areas. You should be looking for places that are lacking natural shade or good airflow, where heat may pose risks.
Before jumping into any construction or running to the hardware store, try to implement existing shade on your property first, such as mature trees, fence lines and existing structures. Rotating animals into naturally shaded areas is a great way to help them stay cool, but trees do take a long time to grow. Some properties with sparse trees or drier locations may not have enough natural shade to effectively protect livestock.
Step Two: DIY Shade
Establishing shaded areas is a great place to start, and can be relatively simple. According to the University of New Hampshire, shade can lower air temperature by 15 to 20 degrees, and shaded surfaces by 20 to 45 degrees.
With just a canvas and some materials, creating cooler spaces is quick and easy.
Tarp-and-Post Shelter
You may already have the materials and location on hand to build a simple tarp-and-post shelter. You will want to use a corner of a paddock or an existing fence line and install fence posts to form a triangle, square or rectangle. From there, you can connect the points with two-by-fours and roundwood for attaching the tarp, or stretch the tarp between three points tightly enough to prevent wind damage.
These shade structures come in many shapes and sizes, from a-frames and lean-tos to tarp sails and canopies with poles. Tarp Supply Inc notes that it is important to keep the roofs pitched in some way to provide ample headroom and runoff.
You will also want to secure the tarp sufficiently with ropes or bungee cords. Attach them to poles or stakes if anchor points, such as trees, are not available. One gust of wind can easily take down these setups if not installed properly.
Fresh Eggs Daily also recommends using a tarp or shade cloth across the top and side of a chicken run to create a cooler space if bushes or shrubs are not in the area.
Lightweight Portable Structure For smaller livestock and poultry, a portable shade
AcreageLife. com July 2026 AcreageLife 17