keeping hydrated

[zoruagalaxy]

during humid and hot temperatures aside from the shade, is it ok to put sprinkled ice on the floor where the chickens lay for keeping them cool? Also i heard people sometimes dip their feet in water to keep them from overheating, does that work aswell?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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.

 

[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.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here's my article on Hot Climate chicken keeping: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

And @aart's article on Extreme Weather: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

Since our heat arrived late and suddenly after a cold spring, I did something yesterday that I don't normally do. When I made up a batch of electrolytes (in a separate waterer with plain water also available), I used some of the solution to make wet mash, which I normally make with plain water).

Chickens love wet mash and it's a good way to ensure that they're well-hydrated.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Going to Up Vote wet mash for helping with hot. My experience agrees. I've had less luck with foot baths.

 

[RoyalChick]

Going to Up Vote wet mash for helping with hot. My experience agrees. I've had less luck with foot baths.

I make wet mash with whey and kefir and then I freeze it and give it to them frozen. It is a very popular ice-cream treat.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I make wet mash with whey and kefir and then I freeze it and give it to them frozen. It is a very popular ice-cream treat.

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?