keeping drinking water cool and fresh

[shades]

What's the best way to keep drinking water cool and fresh in a hot climate?

Is it OK to keep a water supply in the fridge, then add to their drinking bottle?

Or how about putting a little water, then adding ice cubes?

The pigs are happy to take cool vegetables straight from the fridge so it's not like they aren't used to cool things.

[Bean]

It's not really an issue I've had much cause to worry about in the UK... Good for the pigs perhaps, but not for me!

I certainly wouldn't see any problem with giving them chilled water though, or adding ice cubes to the water.

I think in general the water being body temperature wouldn't be an issue though, they'll still drink. And in hot weather cold drinks never stay cold for long (I've experienced that when on holiday!).

Having cool areas for them to retreat to is more important, whether you provide icebottles (wrapped in a towel) for them to lie against, put in a cool stone/ tile/ paving slab for them to lie on, drape damp towels over part of the cage or add a fan to keep air moving around (although not directly on them).

[3piggles]

I agree with Bean about keeping their living area cool more than the water. However, in really hot climates, having the water too warm for too long leads to algae forming in the bottle or bowl, making the container slimy. If you use water bowls, I recommend ice cubes. For bottles, cold water.

[Bean]

You're right about that - the rabbits hutch is entirely in the shade as it's along a fence (their run is half sun and half shade), but I have to wash the bottle a lot more once it gets warmer! I have a special tub of rice near the sink so I can pop a bit in and give it a vigorous shake every few days as that keeps on top of it.

[shades]

Thanks for your advice. I'll try cooled water, the ice bottles (freezing now) and the wet towels. If I come across a small tile, I'll throw that in too. I've got some but they're really big wall tiles.

[3piggles]

I don't know if you have centers for home building/improvement supplies, but I checked ours, and found the discounted tiles either returned because some were broken, or were used as displays and have been discontinued. They're really cheap and because they're flat they fit in a small area of the freezer, or around other things. I just have to find mine. they got packed in some box, and it's among all the other boxes

[bazookagoof]

I always change the water daily, even if they haven't touched it much. (Oscar will drink about a fifth, and Theo barely touches his bottle, but I change it anyway)

Also, I switch the bottles out for washing every few days, so I have a total of four bottles.

They don't seem to complain about the water being room temperature.

(I always serve it cold, but as time passes...)

[shades]

I was buying some hay tonight and come across these boxes

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I think I'll stick with my frozen water bottles. One pig seems to have got the hang of it. He was caught lying against it earlier. The other hasn't cottoned on yet

[3piggles]

Your other pig may consider the ice bottle to be an interloper, and not be sure if he wants to welcome the newbie to his cage. If he sees the other pig using it, hopefully he will try it, too.

If he doesn't come around, perhaps he'd like it over him, instead. Do you have a grid you could put it on, so the cold sinks down on him without actually touching him or taking up space in his cage. I have the grid houses I made by bending two grids and connecting them with Velcro. I put the ice packs on that, so the cold sinks down to the piggies.

[shades]

You must be psychic

Since I moved away from fleece, I put bent grids above their sleeping area and covered it with fresh hay.

[3piggles]

Great minds think alike