Keeping my girls hydrated in extreme heat

[imnukensc]

I don’t drink from a straw and neither do my birds those nipple thing are made to keep the water clean , not thinking at all about how birds drink naturally, get rid of it , they’re useless

Horizontal nipples are hardly useless and my birds drink from them just fine, thank you. I'm in the middle of SC. It gets HOT here unlike Canada. I don't put ice in their water, give them frozen treats, or pans of water to wade in/drink from.

 

[IamRainey]

What about vertical nipples? That's what I have.

Once upon a time my girls were happy with them. Now they prefer the jar and dish arrangement I got for my chicks.

 

[nminusyplusm]

If you put your waterers up so they are back height, it will help keep them cleaner. I would suggest something bigger than chick waterers though.

I use horizontal nipples, my chickens don't seem to have any problems getting enough water from them. When they push the nipple to the side the water keeps flowing for them, it's not like they get a drip at a time. I've watched mine drink for a few seconds, just like an open waterer and walk away. I've offered open rubber bowls when it was real hot and most of them just went back to the nipples, so that's what they get to use all the time. Our temps get to the upper 90's and I haven't lost any chickens. I've never used the cups or vertical nipples and don't ever plan to, since both of them seem to have their own issues. I'll stay with the horizontals, since they work so well for them.

Same here. My summers are triple digits. I use horizontal nipples and I also water down the deep litter in places and give them a wading pool. They'll drink from the pool a bit, I think out of novelty, but go right back to the horizontal nipples minutes later. They work perfectly throughout the year.

I do keep my 5 gallon waterer shaded from the sun so it doesn't get hot.

 

[Relleoms]

I’ve been freezing wet feed in cool whip containers & bringing it out at lunch time for my flock of 14. They love it! Frozen grapes and frozen scrambled eggs are also a hit, but with the feed they’re getting all the nutrients they need as well as extra water. It’s usually gone in an hour or two, so you would need to adjust to meet the size of your flock so the feed doesn’t get funky, especially when it’s really hot.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I love my 5 gallon waterer with the pan for them to drink from , they get good big drink , and yes it gets dirty ,we clean it once a week, we raised it up on a cut tree stump the same size .

You can add frozen water bottles or ice or electrolytes ,

I don’t drink from a straw and neither do my birds those nipple thing are made to keep the water clean , not thinking at all about how birds drink naturally, get rid of it , they’re useless View attachment 1493407

Horizontal nipples are great. They don't leak or freeze (if water source is kept unfrozen), they keep the water pristine through dust storms and my girls love them.

 

[nminusyplusm]

What about vertical nipples? That's what I have.

Once upon a time my girls were happy with them. Now they prefer the jar and dish arrangement I got for my chicks.

In my experience, vertical nipples leak badly so present a risk of running out of water. I don't trust them.

 

[snow5164]

Horizontal nipples are great. They don't leak or freeze (if water source is kept unfrozen), they keep the water pristine through dust storms and my girls love them.

I respectfully disagree , they freeze and drip a lot ... I’m glad you like them but I sold my buckets with nipples ... made a little cash too.

 

[snow5164]

It gets HOT here unlike Canada. I don't put ice in their water, give them frozen treats, or pans of water to wade in/drink from.

Well if it gets sooo hot there why don’t you add ice?frozen treats or pans of water? Not sure I get your point?

It’s 103’F here today , we have a heat warning

It’s been extremely hot everywhere this year if you don’t want to try the little things that help the birds be more comfortable that’s your choice.I choose to make their lives as comfortable as possible, and allow them big gulps of fresh cold water .... And no, I don’t go to fast food joints or drink milk shakes

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What about the water temperature? If it is about 100F air temperature, it won't be long before the water in a 5 gallon bucket is 100F. Chickens won't drink hot water. frozen water bottles dropped in the bucket or fount a couple times a day will help.

I use large rubber feed tubs with a frozen water bottle floating in them for foot baths that some birds will take advantage of.

 

[DobieLover]

I use vertical nipple waterers. I have an semi-automatic waterer in the coop that will be my chickens main water source in the winter. It is constantly recirculating via a 4w fountain pump. I flush it out weekly and refill with fresh water with Ropa Vet Poultry Complete Oregano supplement added. I have a little length of gutter under the nipples to catch stray drips when they are drinking so the litter stays dry. No issues at all with them using it. I trained them to use these nipples from when they arrived from the hatchery.
I keep their "baby bottle" hanging under the coop in the run and put electrolytes in it during heat waves. Otherwise, it is just plain water.
I freeze cantaloupe guts, diced cantaloupe and small containers of their fermented feed and they get that during the hottest times of day along with a heavy glass loaf pan full of ice water.
I happen to have a trench along the edge of my yard that has slowly flowing water in it. This area is also the always in the shade. They love to wade in there for bugs and they do drink from it. Can't stop them. I think this really helps them stay cool so shallow pools in the shade is a great idea.
My birds do very well during heat waves. I rarely see any of them panting. They reduce feed intake a bit but that's all.