Watering before roosting

[Sam The Yam]

My flock does not have the luxury of running free all day, so I let them out of the coop for a little bit in the morning and at night so that they can scratch around in my garden where the coop is located. They really seem to enjoy it. Tonight I thought to turn the water on a little and let it run from the hose. It fulfilled two purposes. It watered the garden and the running water enticed them to come over and stand in it and most importantly get a drink before they went to the roost. Here in Arizona where it is so hot even throughout the night it is important that they get the water they need. They normally probably would not get this last drink for the night from the waterer, but having the running water for them encouraged them to get the water down them. I want to be able to do this for them every night if possible. Maybe they won't be panting so much as they go down for the night.

Remember as a kid ( or maybe your kids do this to you) you would get to bed and then decide that you needed a drink, so you would call out to your mom or dad for a drink and how good it felt when you got that last drink? Animals need that too.

Anyway, I thought I could pass this idea on in hopes that more chickens would go to roost and not have a dry throat!

 

[Mahonri]

I give mine water three times a day in the summer.

I had to stop letting the water run along the run as it started to stink.

 

[GrannySue]

Mine have a waterer which I keep filled all the time. They also help themselves to the 2 pond-like containers I have out for the ducks. We don't have too many really hot days in a row here, certainly nothing like Arizona.

 

[kittyariel]

I put a little quail waterer in the coop at night with them along with their food

 

[Judy]

Mine always have water wherever they are. My little free range flock gathers near the coop at dusk and I have to shoo them in. When it's hot they always get another drink before they jump on the roost.

 

[Sam The Yam]

Quote:
Mine have water all the time as well, however, when it's roost time do they take the time to drink before getting up on the roost? Or do they get down off the roost at night in the dark to get a drink? I thought that enticing them with running water would most likely get them a good drink before go through the night without one, especially in the hotter climates. The key is obviously keeping water available to them. Thanks for responding!

 

[Sam The Yam]

Quote:
Good idea. Thanks for responding.