Chickens and ice?

[Melissa2173]

Since it's been so hot here I put ice and water in a pan for my girls and they are eating the ice. I assume this is okay?

 

[Spoof]

They do seem to love ice in their water, I've been doing it for the last month too. I recently switched to a jug with a nipple waterer and drop the ice inside. They still go nuts for the cold water and if a cube or two falls on the ground will alternate pecking it and squatting on it. Very amusing.

 

[stargirl]

squatting on it?

Do you think its to cool themselves down?

I don't think there's anything wrong with them eating the ice. It should just melt in their crop and is a good way of them hydrating themselves without realising! Mine go mad trying to steal my ice lollies. I'm thinking of freezing some diluted apple juice or something so they can have their own chicken lollies!

 

[Dlynch]

My chicks definitely prefer the fresh cold water we splash in their pan in the evening verses the chicken nipple waterer.

 

[sammyh312]

mine DEFINITELY prefer fresh, iced water. Theyll drink if its warm, but they come running when i change out their water and ice blocks. I use large aluminum foil baking pans full of water with a frozen 2-litre water bottle. I put one in the rabbit pen too, and they lay up against it one on each side.