Are Chickens Smart Enough To Eat The Snow??

[Chickie Mamma]

Hello, I keep going out to thaw their water, but in this "BLIZZARD" are they smart enough to eat the snow if their water freezes overnight?? The heated dog dish is not doing too well!

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

You don't want them to eat snow anyway.
It will lower their core temp. and they won't be well off.

 

[Emzyyy]

Mine eat the snow if its in a container but won't eat it on the ground

 

[farmergal]

I don't know if they're smart enough to eat the snow, but I have been told by backpacking instructor types that you're *not* supposed to eat snow if you're thirsty in a snow storm. They claim that it takes too much energy to turn the snow into water -- it ends up being a net loss of liquid from your body if you eat snow. It always seemed weird to me, but I've heard it from a bunch of different Wilderness First Aid-certified people that have otherwise been trustworthy.

If the chickens were smart enough to squat on the snow, use their bum-heat to make it into water, and drink that... now that might help them out

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
How do they have access to snow overnight? Are they not in a coop snug and warm?

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Good Points!! I am going back out to put some more water in their dish!! Thanks..

 

[SterlingAcres]

When my birds water freezes before I replace it again, they eat the snow.

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

Every time I go into the coop there constantly pecking at the snow on my boots...

 

[Roosterboy]

Living With Chickens by Jay Rossier :

One of my neighbors, after years of breaking out ice, decided his bantams could get all their water in the winter from eating snow.

The book then states that it is rather unconventional.

I don't think that i would rely on them eating enough snow completely though​

 

[ChickenToes]

Mine eat snow all the time, even if their water hasn't frozen yet.