Top X Ways to Cool Down Your Barn This Summer

8 Tips on How to Keep Your Barn Safe and Cool as Temperatures Rise

Installing Fans

Ventilation is the most important thing to ensure for your barn in the summers. It helps you to maintain the temperature of your barn during the scorching heat of summers. Installation of large fans enables you to push air in the overall barn. It helps you to maintain the proper airflow. So that there is no danger of hot and stagnant air which can be dangerous for you and your horses.

Staying Hydrated

In the summer season horses, cattle and other livestock tend to drink more water. So all the water buckets placed near them must be filled and refilled throughout the day. Ensure that no one suffers from dehydration. As it can be a sign of more serious health complications if left untreated.

Moreover, people who keep returning to the barn should take care of themselves as well by placing a fridge with stocked water bottles or drinking fountains. It helps promote good drinking habits and helps them to maintain their health by being hydrated.

Providing Shade

Maintain a source of shade for your livestock if they are staying outside more. The shade will allow them to relax and keep themselves safe from scorching sunlight. Trees are also a source of great shade.

But in case, you don’t have trees near your paddocks or pastures. Then you must invest in run-in shelters or hanging a shade cloth. It will allow your livestock a chance to escape the sun to cool down and relax under it.

Moreover, if you don’t have any of these options. Then try adjusting the turnout time or limiting it to morning or afternoon. The coolest time enables your horses and goats to have a good time outside the barn. All livestock needs to spend time out from the stable or stall to live a full and healthy life.  One must maintain the balance and health of everyone associated with the barn.

Manure Management

Manure management is highly necessary for keeping the barn cool in the summer season. The mix of high temperature and soiled stalls is not a good condition. Other than the smell, high temperatures increase the probability of bacteria and parasites. Stalls must muck out twice a day as manure increases the flies as pests. Moreover, ensure that all the flies are out of the barn. It makes your barn fresh and smells good. It becomes free of flies and keeps it clean.

Location, Location, Location

In case you are building a barn. Then the top thing to ensure is to choose the location by keeping the temperature condition in mind. The location plays a significant role in your barn. And its healthy environment as a good location can keep your interior cool. Moreover, a location near trees is also useful. As your barn can be provided shade through those trees.

It is also important to note that building a barn in a location, that is quite breezy on summer days is highly beneficial. It allows your barn to get more airflow by keeping the doors and windows open.

Air Flow

Opening windows and doors of the barn allows great airflow throughout it. It allows you to keep your barn cool. Try and ensure to open as many windows as possible. You can also open doors on both sides to maximize the airflow. It allows you to keep your barn healthy and not increase the probability of dangerous stagnant air. 

Air Condition

An air conditioning system is a necessity for your barn. It makes the place comfortable for both you and those living in it. There are several options for air conditioning depending on the size of your barn. If your barn is small so a window AC unit or two will be enough to maintain a comfortable temperature. The large barn size needs duct systems. It enables you to host good events in your barn. Before adding an AC system, you just need to insulate the barn. It will allow the cooling of AC to stay inside the barn.

Repainting with Lighter Colors

Another important tip to keep your barn cool is to keep your barns in light paint colors for roof and siding. Avoid getting dark shade colors as it tends to absorb more heat in the summer season. It does not mean you have to paint your barn again. But it means if you are considering building a new barn. Then consider painting it in lighter shades. It will allow your barn’s roof and siding to reflect the heat instead of absorbing it. It will ultimately provide you with a comfortable and cool barn environment for your horses, cattle and other livestock.

Misting Systems

The use of misting or spraying systems is another important tip to keep your barn cool in the summers. It enables you to improve your livestock’s health. Introducing the misting system is necessary. Moreover, its effectiveness depends on the airflow in the barn. The misting system depends on evaporation. Hence, if the airflow is less, the evaporation will be less. It can then impact the cooling. It can also keep your barn damp.

Misting also adds moisture to the environment to reduce dust that can avoid respiratory issues. The added moisture provides a comfortable environment for the everyone. Misting systems also prevent the insects from causing harm to the livestock.

The planning must be made on all aspects of the situation. Like for both people in stables and horses, so that you can create a healthy environment in summers while enjoying the outdoors as well. Moreover, once you make safety and health a priority. The other things just managed to work naturally after all these efforts.

Conclusion

Thus ventilation, water stocking, proper airflow, AC system, and misting systems are just a few tips to keep your barn cool and safe for your livestock, yourselves, and produce.