Carbonated water on hot days?

[AmyE690]

I've been reading all of your posts and I love how everyone is so helpful. We have five eight week-old chickens and we're insanely overprotective. We're in Arizona and it was over 100 degrees this weekend and we actually put a swamp cooler blowing into the coop for them. Nuts, eh?

Anyway, the boyfriend heard that when chickens pant they're depleting their bodies of carbon dioxide and that chicken farmers give the chickens carbonated water when it gets hot. This information came from a militant vegan Chemistry teacher. I told him I'd do some research but haven't found anything.

Is this familiar to anyone? Does anyone else out there have chickens in a climate similar to hell?

Thanks!

 

[CarriBrown]

I think the best thing for them would be good ol' fashioned water. Even if carbonated water were good for them, I wouldn't try it on such a hot day because they may refuse to drink something other than what they are used to.
The swap cooler is a great idea. I also live in hell like conditions (

) and what we did was build the run and coop under trees. You can also try misters or water down their dirt so they can dust bathe in dirt. Gross, I know, but I suppose that's quite a treat when you're a hot chicken!

 

[dlhunicorn]

see the last article in my first posting this thread (livestock trail) on the carbonated water ...the entire thread is about heat stress:
http://p072.ezboard.com/fbackyardchickensfrm1.showMessage?topicID=22798.topic

 

[TinaMarie]

I live in Arizona also, and see my chickens panting. I just go and spray the ground a little to dampen it. they seem to love it, and they stop panting.. but most of the time.. they just lay in the shade and sleep during the hotter parts of the day..

Tina

 

[lovemy6hens]

Has anyone on BYC tried this?

As long as it's seltzer water and not mineral water or club soda, it might be worth a try if provided as a choice in addition to tap water.

From what I understand it could be helpful, but giving them a way to cool their feet is more effective.

Here is another thread on BYC about carbonated water:
Found some studies regarding the potential benefits(?) of carbonated water on overheated birds...

 

[debid]

I think people are confusing what is meant by carbonated water. The fizzy stuff is carbon dioxide infused and that would not be helpful. The kind in the article has bicarbonate added. Two very different things!

 

[lovemy6hens]

I think it's all a little confusing, especially when there are multiple studies referenced. I'll add the titles with the links on that page.

Found some studies regarding the potential benefits(?) of carbonated water on overheated birds...