The use of frozen water bottles

[chickadee25]

Hi there everyone! I have seen on the message boards how people use frozen water bottles in the really hot weather and was just wondering if the chickens will go on there themselves or do you have to put them on there and show them. I live in Queensland, Australia and it was 30 degrees C (86 f) here today and my girls didnt want a bar of sitting on the cold bottles. I also put a towel around it just in case it got too cold on there feet.

Thanks

 

[fowltemptress]

Well, really it's meant to cool the air in the coop a bit, and they'll sit next to it if they want to, not perched on it. You don't need to place them on the bottles.

 

[chickadee25]

Thank you for your help fowltemptress. I was actually wondering how they worked so thank you for your reply. I have only had the chickens for about 3 weeks.

 

[fowltemptress]

Welcome to the world of chickens! Aren't they fun?

I'm always trying to figure way to keep my chickens cool. The heat index today was 109 F, so my freezer is full of frozen bottles of water for the chickens. I used to use water bottles, but they melted too fast so I've started freezing milk jugs and 2 liter coke bottles filled with water. Most of my chickens prefer finding their own cool spots in the shade when they're allowed to roam, but when I have to keep them locked up in their coop and pen they sure appreciate the bottles.
Good luck with them!