keeping hydrated

[RoyalChick]

When feeding close to 80 birds each day (at my peak), that's a lot less practical. How about 58 degree spring water, straight from the aquifer?

I wasn't suggesting it would work for you - but for a small flock it is a nice fun cooling treat. Someone else might enjoy trying it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine hate foot baths. I tried all kinds of ways to entice them to step into the shallow 18" planter dish I used,

I think it's very much an individual bird thing. I have one that really seems to love it, and will immediately get in and stand in the center, while other birds will only dip a toe or two in.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What breeds are your birds? I imagine that if they are heat tolerant birds, they won't need or desire foot baths.
When I had multiple breeds, there were always birds making use of them, but my Penedesencas never seem to use them.

 

[zoruagalaxy]

Foot baths work very well. You don't have to dip their feet. They will just stand in the water. Their blood vessels in the legs and feet while standing in water will serve to cool their body temperature.
I wouldn't sprinkle ice if there is bedding as that will just melt, make the bedding wet causing mold/fungus and give a good environment for coccidia to reproduce.
For the foot baths, I use big rubber feed tubs with a frozen water bottle floating in the water. I refill water bottles and freeze them.
Having the right breed of chicken for hot climates will negate the need to worry.

I don't put it in their bedding but i usually just put the ice on the grass where they lay in the yard so they dont sit on hot grass. Is that ok too?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's OK. What breeds do you have?

You said, "sprinkle ice on the floor". I assumed you meant in the coop or run at best, not on the grass.

 

[zoruagalaxy]

That's OK. What breeds do you have?

8 week old black australorps. I know they say they are a heat and cold hardy breed, but even though they have lots of big trees to go under, we get alot of sun and heat where i live, so i want to keep them as cool as possible.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

AOrps are a good breed. I would put them in the middle of the scale on heat tolerance. They are more cold hardy than heat hardy.
They will definitely appreciate a foot bath.