Had a convo with my neighbor about keeping hens cool in July

Last week my neighbor Jim saw me hauling ice blocks out to my coop. He’s kept chickens for like 15 years. He told me to freeze 2-liter soda bottles full of water and swap them out around noon. Just drop them in their waterers and maybe one on the ground near the dust bath. I used to soak the run with a hose every few hours. That made mud pits and got the girls stressed. The frozen bottles keep the water chilly for 4 hours easy and they peck at the condensation too. Has anyone else tried this with bigger jugs for a whole flock of 8?

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claire_butler11mo ago

frozen bottles are the real deal. ice blocks seem like overkill.

2

finleycooper1mo ago

Wait, you actually switched from ice blocks to frozen bottles? I used to think bottles were too small to matter but after trying it I gotta admit you're right. Way less mess and they last just as long.

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