Hot and cold

[Firework]

I hope this is in the correct place.
Can chickens tell if something is hot like a hot pepper, or cold like when they eat snow?

 

[canada-goose]

You mean by looking at it? Or do you mean when eating it? I think they can taste the difference.

 

[Firework]

I ment when they are eating it. Thanks!

 

[canada-goose]

Yes, I'm pretty sure they can tell.

 

[Firework]

Okay, is it ok if I feed them snow insted of water?

 

[teach1rusl]

Here a is quote from a web site on surviving severe winter weather... "Do not eat snow. It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first." A creature may do it for survival (although think of how your body reacts when you eat something really cold. Now think of eating something really cold when it's 20 degrees outside...makes you feel colder), but animals under our care shouldn't have to resort to survival mode. Some may investigate and sample it, but it should not be their source of water. They should have liquid water available to the them daily. Some people put warm water out so that it won't freeze as fast.

 

[naturegrrl]

I would definitely NOT feed them snow *instead* of water. It's ok if they eat some snow on occasion, but they should have access to a fresh liquid water source. Eating snow lowers the core body temperature dangerously (can lead to hypothermia), and doesn't provide nearly as much water as drinking liquid water. I suspect the chooks wouldn't eat very much snow if left to their own devices.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm sure they can feel cold snow. I saw my chickens "testing" it out, and I wondered if they would get a brain freeze.

But I've read that they cannot taste hot things, like peppers.

 

[Plain Old Dee]

I wouldn't feed them snow - they would use too many needed calories trying to stay warm. We don't have heated waterers, either. We do carry down a small bucket of very warm water a few times a day. The girls sure seem to appreciate it. Even when their water isn't frozen, they like the warm water.

 

[Firework]

Okay, thanks for all of the help. I am now bringing them a big jug of water every day.