Birdbath for chickens?

[cadeschicks]

Now that our chickies are 6 weeks old and getting ready to move outside we are working on installing some creature comforts in their run. Would chickens enjoy a birdbath of sorts? We would probably just use a large, shallow dog dish for them to splash around in. Do chickens like to splash in water like other birds? Would it be a drowning hazard?

 

[ChickenJerk]

Chickens will not use water to bathe in.
Fine dry materials, yes. Liquids, no.

 

[donrae]

Chickens will not use water to bathe in.
Fine dry materials, yes. Liquids, no.

x2

They don't like to splash. Give them a large pan or an area of sand or other fine dirt. Just be prepared to think they're ill or having convulsions, they flop around and get in the weirdest positions, especially if the bathing area is in the sun!

 

[BoltonChicken]

Chicken Jerk is correct. Chickens take dirt baths, not water baths. Come summer you will see all kinds of weird things on this forum about keeping chickens "cool" during the heat, all the way from furnishing ice water to giving them swimming pools to spraying them with water. The "creature comforts" for a chicken are: Shade and lots of it, nice loose dirt to dig and bath in, plenty of air circulation, water and food. Thats it. Chickens are jungle birds, not people.

 

[ChickenJerk]

Come summer you will see all kinds of weird things on this forum about keeping chickens "cool" during the heat, all the way from furnishing ice water to giving them swimming pools to spraying them with water.

. Chickens are jungle birds, not people.

Not people?????????
That kind of insane thinking will get you into trouble around here!!!!!!

But really, cool water to drink does help them a lot in the summer.

 

[donrae]

Not people?????????
That kind of insane thinking will get you into trouble around here!!!!!!

But really, cool water to drink does help them a lot in the summer.

 

[Imp]

Chickens won't play or bathe in the water, but they will walk in it. There have been lots of pictures posted showing chickens standing in puddles/containers of water, especially in the heat of summer. My chickens will get into the garden pond. I don't know why since I don't get very hot summers often, but they do year 'round. Mine will also dust bathe in dark, wet soil as often as they do in dry dusty sandy areas.

Imp

 

[bj taylor]

i just acquired a plastic sand box w/lid. i put the sand box with about 2" of water in the run. i was hoping the birds would walk in it. i read that chickens cool off through their feet as well as panting & holding their wings away from their body.
this is my first summer with chickens. Texas can be and usually is brutally hot. my birds have shade, but i just want to give them every chance to survive the heat.
y'all don't think they will use it?