Ice, ice, baby!

Icy treats and ice in general can be life-saving on a hot summer day for my chickens, who are in tractors aka portable coops, shaded by tarps instead of trees.  Here are a few easy things to do to offer some relief when the temperatures soar to dangerous levels for our feathered friends.

A gallon milk jug of ice can be placed inside the chicken tractor or covered run on a hot day.  Another good option is a white bleach bottle  This will last up to six hours in the shade (depending on the temperature outside).  My chickens stand or lay next to it, enjoying the coolness it creates, especially when a breeze is blowing.

One day, I saw one of the girls leaning her chest against it and another time, a group of four hens were laying around it!  Any plastic, gallon container will work or even something larger if your deep freezer accommodates it!

A disposable water bottle of ice inside a 1 gallon waterer will create a refreshing cold drink on a hot day.  Blue Ice and other plastic gel bottles also work.  

Or fill the fountain part of the waterer about 2/3 full, then put it in the deep freezer. Once it freezes, fill and hang in the coop; as the ice melts, a nice cold drink awaits! Especially nice for those hens who are laying in the heat of the day!  Warning:  Expanding water/ice WILL crack the waterer, so, freeze the plastic fountain at your own risk!






A 2 liter soda bottle can be placed in a dish pan of water for them to stand in.  I have not tried this yet, but, I do place the bottles laying on the ground and have seen chickens stand on it!  And, I expect it would fit in a very large water fountain.

WARNING:  Some recent articles suggest that feeding chickens frozen treats are harmful and may cause sudden death.  So, you have to make your own decision about how or if to do this.

I have not done this:  Sweet peas, or any vegetable can be placed in a muffin tin with liquid and/or water to make frozen Veggie Pops.

Mealworms or other feeder insects can be frozen this way as well.  I expect this would give enrichment as well.

Though I might avoid corn, other vegetables can be frozen, such as zucchini or squash.  I especially like a large, seedy zucchini, split in half and frozen, and so do my hens!







Those leftover hamburger buns can become a tasty cold treat for chickens.  Soak the bun in water or broth until thoroughly wet, but not so soggy as to fall apart.  Lay on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer until slightly frozen yet still easy to get off the cookie sheet. Place in a plastic bag randomly, not stacked together, and return to the freezer until ready to use.

Mixture of hamburger buns with beef fat and carrot pulp.
1/2 c. balls, frozen and ready for summer treat.

A little Redneck Shade doesn't hurt!

Even though each tractor is covered with a tarp, 

the additional cover lends greater protection from the heat of the reflective rays!

Never throw away a tarp!  All these have been previously used, however,
ravels, tears or missing grommets doesn't mean they can't be useful!