Chickens don't like drinking lukewarm water, they like drinking nice cold water. So when you're heating the water, make sure you don't heat it up too much. The purpose of heating the water should be to prevent it from freezing. To heat the water you can either make your own heater or buy a pre-made solution.
Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to enjoy.
However, there is a caveat to this trick: chickens won't drink water that is too warm. You don't want your flock to get dehydrated during cold weather, so making sure the water is still palatable is essential! In general, using room temperature water or slightly lukewarm water will still be acceptable for your flock.
The ideal water temperature is about 13ºC (55ºF). Anything much above or below this and you'll find your chickens are reluctant to drink. But you'll be glad to know you don't need to be paranoid about getting the water to exactly the right temperature. Just make sure it's cold and fresh.
When your chickens are well cared for, they can easily handle temperatures down to zero or a few degrees below zero. As temps drop to 20 or 30 degrees below zero, chickens will need special care to handle the extreme cold.
A chicken's body temperature lowers when it loses more heat than it can produce. Huddling together, holding a foot up to their breast, or puffing their feathers are all signs that your chickens may be cold.
There are no definitive rules about what temperature is too cold for chickens. Chickens can tolerate subfreezing temperatures, but keeping your chickens warm through the winter will help them stay healthy and productive all season long.
“Adding probiotics to the water can help build beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. The more good bacteria in the digestive system, the less room for harmful bacteria.” Probiotic supplements can be added to chickens' water for three days each month.
While spraying down the top of your coop or run can help cools things off, you shouldn't spray your chickens directly or dunk their whole bodies in water. Just the feet is sufficient! Chickens also cool down by taking dust baths.
Plenty of people provide their hens with rainwater from these asphalt-shingled roofs and the chickens do fine. However, cedar roofs and metal roofs will give hens cleaner water.
Give them Ice & Frozen Treats
You can also add blocks of ice, or toss a bunch of ice cubes into the waterer or feed pan. Chickens can drink the ice water as it melts. Frozen watermelon makes the perfect summer treat for your chickens.
Another question we get is "how much apple cider vinegar should I put in my chickens water?" Apple cider vinegar is a cost-effective way to boost your flock's health. To use it for healthy chickens, chicken owners can simply add about one tablespoon per gallon in a coop's waterer.
Trading out your plastic or metal waterer for a black rubber tub is an easy way to give your chickens an edge over the cold. A black rubber water tub placed in a sunny spot will absorb heat from the sun throughout the day.
The most important part is to soak the chicken in salted ice water for a few hours, before shaking each piece in seasoned flour, then crisping them in a hot oven (yes, oven). By giving the chicken this long, salty, icy bath, Judy says, you're firming up the meat and flavoring it at the same time.
Many chickens don't mind get wet occasionally in the rain. Their feathers can repel water a bit just like a raincoat for us. (With the exception of silkies and frizzles, as their feathers are not as water resistant and can easily get soaked).
Chicken feathers are somewhat waterproof and delay the birds from getting wet to the skin. But fluffy, loose-feathered chickens tend to get wet faster. Once a chicken's feathers are soaking wet, she is at risk of hypothermia. They cannot keep her body heat, and her temperature drops.
It is best to place your chicken waterer in a cool, shady and protected area in your coop. This will help keep it from getting dirtied and protected from the elements, and will also keep the water cool, so your girls can have a refreshing drink!
A little bit of vinegar in their water can help reinforce that crucial strength. Digestion: ACV is often used to regulate pH levels in the body, which is excellent for bird digestion. Studies have also been done indicating that the probiotics found in fermented substances can help support gut health in humans.
Raw garlic may be used to boost the immune system of a droopy mature chicken by serving as an appetite stimulant. Add crushed garlic to the drinking water at the rate of four cloves per gallon, providing fresh garlic water daily.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Chickens:
Apple Cider Vinegar is thought to support animals digestive system by providing probiotics (also known as “good bacteria”) Helps break down minerals and fats. Assists the animal to assimilate protein. Assists the animal to convert food better.
On sunny days, chickens will position themselves to absorb the sun's warmth, and on cold nights, they will huddle together in a tight group to share body heat. Chickens can even slightly lower their internal metabolism to better resist cold snaps.
You should try and stabilize your coop temperature during the Winter to sit no colder than -15ºC (5ºF) to -20ºC (-4ºF) consistently. Of course, anything warmer than this during the Winter is great and your chickens will be fine! Just be sure to have proper ventilation in your coop.
Lethargic. The term lethargic can be used to identify the body language of a chicken who is feeling ill. A lethargic chicken will be inactive and may have a hunched over posture. The chicken will keep its head tucked close to its body and its tail will be droopy.