During the hot summer months, I sometimes notice our rooster, Fabio, looking pretty hot and exhausted. After all, it does get a little toasty here in Central Oregon in the summertime! I think on those especially brutally hot days, we all kind of look like Fabio. The difference is that we (us humans) can come inside the air-conditioned house to get some relief. Fabio? Not so much. Instead I make these tasty frozen treats for our poor chicken.
My animals are all pretty spoiled, and Fabio is no different. I make him his own “popsicles” of sorts. Fabio enjoys cornsicles, using fresh or canned corn, strawberrysicles using strawberries that have gotten too mushy for us to eat (but NEVER moldy strawberries or fruit!), peachsicles and watermelonsicles. These are all things that chickens love, and he has fun eating them as well. The nice thing about these is that even if they don’t stay frozen for long, they will remain cold and refreshing for a bit even after the ice has melted.
When I make “popsicles” for chickens, I like to use the ice cube molds that make long cubes that are typically used to put in water bottles. They are long and slender and easy for our rooster to peck at and break apart. Sometimes I will even break them into pieces for him. I also use molds that are different shapes (as I already had these on hand). I have to admit that the strawberry flamingo ice cubes are pretty cute!
What can I feed my chickens on a hot day to cool them down?
Sometimes chickens don’t drink water when they are overheated, so having frozen treats on hand for our feathered friends during the hot summer months, is always a good idea. Ice and fruits with a lot of water content are best for chickens and roosters who are feeling the effects of the heat. Think watermelon, strawberries, cucumber, grapes, etc.
Do chickens like watermelon rinds?
Oh yes they do – they like all parts of a watermelon, and all parts are safe for them to eat. For the frozen Watermelon treats for my chicken, I cut the rind up as well as the inside. I kind of “smoosh” both down into the ice cube trays and then add a little water until they are covered. For the peaches I do the same, but discard the pit. Our rooster LOVES peaches! Be creative! There are so many things that chickens like to eat, and these ice treats for roosters are perfect to use up food that is past its prime, will freeze well, and that you will non longer use.
Can you make frozen treats for chickens out of peaches?
Chickens LOVE peaches and nectarines, and they are safe for chickens to eat!
How can I keep my chickens happy on hot days?
There are several ways to help chickens cool down in hot weather. Make sure they have plenty of water in different areas. If you know a certain spot where they like to hang out, add a waterer there. You can put a mister out for them (just don’t put it too close to the coop, so the water doesn’t go in), or set the hose on mist and let them come near it if they choose. Another thing you can do to help chickens cool off is to freeze their feed. As mentioned above, you can freeze fruit or vegetables for your chickens, or you can make veggie or fruit popsicles for your chickens.
Thanks for reading – Hopefully this post about how to make frozen treats for chickens will help you keep your chickens cool (and happy to have a treat!). I also hope your feathered friends enjoy these frozen fruit treats for chickens and roosters and much as our Fabio enjoys his! If you have any other tips on keeping your feathered pets cool on those hot days, please leave them in the comments below. If you know anyone who has chickens and might enjoy this post, please share – thanks!
