It's hot. We broke some records in my area today, crossing 100 degrees, and my chickens have been miserable. Along with the standard cooling tricks, this year I decided to try something different - I filled a plastic bin with water, and dunked each chicken in it, midday when it was the hottest. I kept them in for a while, massaging their feathers to open them up and allow the water to get to the skin, and get at least their bellies, butts, and legs wet to bring their core temperature down. I noticed a significant improvement in demeanor after. The chickens had been lethargic, tails down, heads down, panting and uninterested in anything (even treats!), and after their bath, they perked right up, tails up, scratching around eating their treats, and not panting. It's like they came back to life. Some of them are English Orpington with way too much fluff, and they suffer the most in the summer, so I'm looking for additional ways to cool them off.
So my question is this: is the temperature difference going from 100-degree air to outdoor-spigot-degree water dangerous to their systems? I don't want to do more harm than good if this would be too much of a shock. But they feel visibly so much better after, that I want to keep doing this if it's not dangerous. They are all in good health except one that was diagnosed with EYP 2 or 3 years ago, but has been living with it and having a good quality of life, so I don't know if that makes her more compromised. She's one of the fluffiest ones that overheat the most.
So my question is this: is the temperature difference going from 100-degree air to outdoor-spigot-degree water dangerous to their systems? I don't want to do more harm than good if this would be too much of a shock. But they feel visibly so much better after, that I want to keep doing this if it's not dangerous. They are all in good health except one that was diagnosed with EYP 2 or 3 years ago, but has been living with it and having a good quality of life, so I don't know if that makes her more compromised. She's one of the fluffiest ones that overheat the most.
