My Mom has chickens. I think it’s adorable.  They keep them well fed and well watered, but what I saw on Sunday served as a vivid reminder of proper hydration of outdoor animals.

My niece’s fiance brought the watering bucket out to change the chicken water when we went out to see the birds.  Of course clean water was already plentiful in their coop, but after he dumped the existing water and poured the new water, all the chickens quickly gathered and began drinking.  Why? Because the water was too HOT to drink.

Change water frequently during the summer.  Another idea is to freeze water in old milk cartons or other would-be throwaway liquid containers (after cleaning out, of course). Then put the block of ice outside so the water can hopefully stay cool enough to drink for several hours.