Ice in the Water

[Pack Mom]

During these really hot days I was wondering if I should put some ice into the waters to help keep the chickens cool? I feel so bad when they are panting.

Dorothy

 

[KLLEETRUCKING]

My GF does this for her birds, at first they were a little reluctant but then they figured out " hmmm this stuff is good". She also froze 1 gal. water jugs and put them on the side in their coop when they were little and had to be confined, they snuggled up to the jug and even sat on top of it. Yes, you feel sorry for them when they're panting and have their wings spread.

 

[Tofer76]

gatorade bottles 3/4 full and frozen in the water bucket work good shade the waterers as much as u can
i use 5 gal buckets with nipple waterers in the bottom and just switch out the bottles

 

[MarieNC]

I put frozen water bottles in their water bowls and also have fans on them in the run and in the coop at night. We managed to get through a long string of 100+ days without incident. Sometimes I will even wet them down with some cool water, although they don't much care for that!

 

[NYREDS]

It's nothing the birds need but if it makes you feel better you can do it.

 

[ChickenJerk]

I put frozen water bottles in their water bowls and also have fans on them in the run and in the coop at night. We managed to get through a long string of 100+ days without incident. YEP - THAT HELPS! Sometimes I will even wet them down with some cool water, although they don't much care for that! DO NOT DO THAT!

See post #7 re water temperatures-
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/693793/nipple-water-question#post_9415296

 

[Izzymoon]

I put ice in their water, but no other cooling methods. When I am not working and it's really hot, I let them out, so they can go under the bushes where it's much cooler, and they do dust bathing and make a mess and it doesn't matter. On the days I'm working I supply ice water before I leave and then when I come home. I only work part time so they have to survive for 4 hours. Soon they'll have a bigger coop 100% in the shade, where they can go inside comfortably, so I won't have to worry as much. The current coop location gets partial morning sun