How to get water to water bowls in winter?
- Thread starter pinkforestcall
- Start date
My sister and I carried 5 gallon water buckets to our chickens in the winter when we were kids...I only have the 4 hens, I have two old clean milk jugs that I use to take water out. When it starts really hard freezing at night, I'll bring their outside waterer into the garage to keep it at least mostly thawed. We'll be using a heated waterer when it gets colder.
Free Spirit
The Chiarian
What side of the Cascades are you on - Western WA or Eastern WA. If Western side then you don't have to worry too much about freezing. Eastern side then of course you do.
There are Styrofoam caps you can put on spigots attached to buildings to prevent the tap from freezing. You just take it off and attach your hose when you need to use it. Then detach the hose and replace the insulating cap when done. Then make sure that you run the hose ends (both ends) down hill in a U shape to let gravity drain it completely so no water left inside can freeze and break the hose. Though, if your on pretty flat land and can't drain the hoses you'll have to bucket water to them.
You'll also have to monitor their water because it can begin to freeze shortly after giving it to them if the outside temps remain at or below freezing during the day. Which means you'll have to make several trips to provide water unless you can get power out there to run a water heater or heated watering bowl or fount that you can get from Tractor Supply.
There are Styrofoam caps you can put on spigots attached to buildings to prevent the tap from freezing. You just take it off and attach your hose when you need to use it. Then detach the hose and replace the insulating cap when done. Then make sure that you run the hose ends (both ends) down hill in a U shape to let gravity drain it completely so no water left inside can freeze and break the hose. Though, if your on pretty flat land and can't drain the hoses you'll have to bucket water to them.
You'll also have to monitor their water because it can begin to freeze shortly after giving it to them if the outside temps remain at or below freezing during the day. Which means you'll have to make several trips to provide water unless you can get power out there to run a water heater or heated watering bowl or fount that you can get from Tractor Supply.
Even on flat land you can drain a hose. It just takes more work. Install a hook or ring overhead and run the hose through it. When you're done using the hose detach it from the spigot and draw the hose back through the ring, leaving a long enough "tail" to pull it out to the coop next time.
Same stuff here, our coop is 100 ft away from our house (faucet), last winter was brutal temps dropped to -10 to -20s few times, our first time with chicken. I haul fresh water 2x a day (morning before work & when I get home early evening). I was able to fill water from outside faucet most of the time except when it's below 0, then I have to get water from inside the house from our basement laundry.
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