Ice for Budgies?

[Nicola]

Hi all I have 9 always hungry budgies and am always looking for some new taste experiences of them. I recently made a Doggie Ice Block (Wagga Wagga gets up to 40+ degrees Celsius in Summer) for our dog Sophie, and was wondering if I could make on for my budgies. I was going to use some vegetables (carrot, broccoli and corn) and freeze them in some water in a cup, then crush it a little bit and put in a bowl. I thought this might cool them down a bit on hot days. My only concern is that I have heard not to give budgies really cold water to drink, and having frozen water might be bad for them. Any one know what I should do?
Thanks in advance,

Nicola

[samwiseg]

Mmmm, good question! Hezz said something about that recently as she has been in some really hot weather... but I dont think it was for eating/licking more like bathing i.e. keeping the water cool-ish?

In my experience (and as you said) animals shouldnt be given ice cubes/water as it chills stomachs and can cause colic. But hopefully someone with more experience will be able to answer this one!

[Hezz]

I wouldn't, Nicola. Just think of what a wild budgie would have to put up with. They will be putting up with daytime temps up to the 50's C. You are better off, I think, hosing down the surrounds of the aviary, or even hosing down the roof itself, if it is getting unbearable in the aviary. If you have some garden or foliage around the aviary, watering this down will really do a lot to cool the aviary.

I put a few ice cubes into their bath/drink but only when I have them outside in the sun. A small amount of water in direct sun can get very hot - as samwiseg indicated, it is simply to keep the water from getting too hot.

[Nicola]

Thanks for the reply Sam and Hezz I think they,ll just have to put up with cool fresh water every few hours instead!

Nicola