What would you do, water freezing?

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jlurch

jlurch

Hatching
Mar 26, 2015
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My plan of dealing with freezing water was two have waterers and change frozen water out for a non frozen water. Well with temps being as high as 20 degrees F the past two days I have learned this won't work as the water in the horizontal nipple freeze well before the water in the 5 gallon bucket does. I have thought about running an extension cord out to the coop to heat the water but it is around 500 feet to the coop from my house and feel like that is just not safe. Anyway, just wondering if any one has any suggestions. Thanks!
 
If running power out there is going to be a problem, you may just be better off to forget the nipple waterer and go with a large black rubber water container. You can tip it upside down, knock the ice out of it, and refill it in the morning, then chip any ice forming on the surface when you go out to gather eggs a few times a day.

Edited because I left out half my thought. Had to fix that.
 
Last edited:
Blooie said:
If running power out there is going to be a problem, you may just to forget the nipple waterer and go with a large black rubber water container. You can tip it upside down, knock the ice out of it, and refill it in the morning, then chip any ice forming on the surface when you go out to gather eggs a few times a day
.
Click to expand...

X 2 - I use the fortex tubs for water in the winter. The flexible materiel means you can pop them upside down and step on them or tap them on something or even just drop them on the ground to get the ice out - then pour in water and let the flock drink. They learn very quickly to drink at watering time.
 
I kept a cast iron pot with a clean rock in it on my wood stove and took it out for my girls, The cast iron holds the heat along with the rock. I live in Northern New York so we know cold, Works great,. Could heat in a old crock pot if need be,
 
I second the rubber waterers. I have used the large flat pans, but now prefer the 1 gallon size, and place several outside in the sun. I take out 2 water buckets from the house in the morning, and in the evening I fill up the ones in the coop for the next morning. My coop has electric, so inside they have 2 electric dog bowl waterers that only come on when it is below 35 degrees, so that the water stays cold.
 
Are these rubber waterers prone to tipping over? Are they best in the coop or out in the run where the sun hits it?
 
jlurch said:
Are these rubber waterers prone to tipping over? Are they best in the coop or out in the run where the sun hits it?
Click to expand...

The water bowl only tipped once last year - suspect that has to do with some rather intense movement of the birds during a scuffle. You can locate it in a way that makes tipping least likely but using existing structure or blocks (stone, wood, whatever you have) to provide support on the sides if you are concerned. I have one in the coop and one outside in the run because I am a fan of having more than one water station, especially in a situation like winter where the availability of liquid water is not an all day thing and there is potential for more competition.
 
hi all
this will be my first winter keeping hens and when the fog rolls off the mersey river the temp drops real low and it freezes
so i had a word with my pal who knows a thing or two about hens and he said a lot of people that keep small flocks drop two or three
ping pong balls on top of the water the wind blows them around and stops the water freezing over some float some glycerine on top
some just use warm water and change it two or three times a day take them in at night cos once the girls have gone to roost they dont need them
hope this has been of help
good luck
thumbsup.gif
 
Blooie said:
If running power out there is going to be a problem, you may just be better off to forget the nipple waterer and go with a large black rubber water container. You can tip it upside down, knock the ice out of it, and refill it in the morning, then chip any ice forming on the surface when you go out to gather eggs a few times a day.

Edited because I left out half my thought. Had to fix that.
Click to expand...

X2. You can also get the flat disc warmer, a circle perhaps 9 or 10 inches in diameter about one inch thick and heat it in your microwave and it will hold heat for a few hours. You can then place your rubber water dish on top and even in the coldest weather only have to swap it out once a day, My regular waterers, the water freezes in the outer circle from which the chickens drink before the water in the central jug is frozen.
 

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