Dunking Chickens in water to cool them off?

[NicInNC]

I know my chickens didn't really like the one bath I gave them a few months ago, but I was wondering if dunking their bodies in cool water to get them wet will cool them off. Bad idea?

 

[The Chicken People]

I am a fan of using my soaker spray on the nozzle and misting them ! Its been 100 or higher heat index here for a week or better and my flock loves this! Also keep water available for them to walk in!

 

[NicInNC]

Well, I just went out, turned the sprayer onto mist and they all freaked out running away. Then I put a large, shallow pan in their run and they wouldn't go near it. I thought they would at least drink out of it! Nope. I lifted them one by one and stood them in the pan of water and all but one freaked out.

 

[Dirt Road]

Quote:
I would daresay the commotion was a lot harder on them in the heat, than just letting them cope in their own way! Make sure they have some shade, and provide a spot in the shade where they can get down and wallow in damp or moist soil, or stretch out on the grass, and they will manage far better than if they are being chased around and otherwise being upset. Sometimes our best intentions turn out counter-productive.

Jim

 

[BantyHugger]

You know that saying "Mad as an old wet hen"? Well its true, i had one really aggressive hen (she was attacking a duckling) so i threw her in the duck pond (i had just cleaned it). I think the only thing worse than being hot is being hot and angry/scared. I recommend shade.

 

[siroiszoo]

Here is a thought:

I used to wet my horses down to cool them off but learned that this was bad because their bodies actually heat the water that is on them and makes them hotter. Plus we live in a humid environment (usually 67% or higher humidity on any given day) which makes it hard for even humans to cool when we sweat. After talking to a number of vets, I agreed that this was a bad practice for my horses.

Now I know a chicken is nothing like a horse especially when you think of feathers vs. fur, but wouldn't the principle be the same? Also, it seems to me that wet feathers wouldn't work properly to insulate the body - even from heat - and couldn't be used properly to 'fan' or move the air around the body.

Just an uneducated thought.

 

[Debbienmousey]

I don't think I'd recommend getting them THAT wet. I do mist my hens some times though.

Chickens also cool down by taking dust baths, so I'd just allow them access to lots of shade, cool dirt, and cool water.

 

[melody123]

I used to have chickens that loved hanging out in an old kiddie wading pool The water was high enough to come to the top of their legs, and they would stand in it for hours.

It helps if you give the chickens a reason to go near the water. Do not throw them in, since they will associate the water with fright. Instead, put something in the water that floats, that they can peck at and eat.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Last month we had a couple of very hot days in the 90's. My poor silkies were panting like crazy. I took each one out and gently soaked them down with the hose. They loved it. I was worried that they were going to have heat strokes.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Not so uneducated.

We should drink warm/hot drinks in hot weather and cold ones in cold weather.

When you drink a cold drink, your body produces heat to bring it up to body temperature. Reverse is true for hot drink in cold weather; the body responds by cooling it.

Counterintuitive, I know.

I run fans and wet the soil -- but don't put ice in my waterers.