Best way to keep water from freezing?

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airmechreed

airmechreed

Songster
8 Years
May 17, 2011
328
3
134
Colorado Springs
Ok I know everyone has different watering systems and ways to keep them flowing durring the cold months. Lets post pictures and and ideas of things that have worked or things that others should not even attempt because we have already proved they are not efficient. I live in Colorado and this is the first year I will have chickens in the winter and I am tossing around ideas in my head. I would love to see what is already out there. I would also like to know as to where your waterers are kept in the coup, or out side etc. I am looking for a chicken waterer engineer out there. Show us what you came up with, or write about it.
 
Me too! Me too!
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I was going to use one of those 3 gallon heated chicken waterers, but after shipping and handling, it would be about $60. If there's something cheaper and easier that will keep water liquid when it's 20 below for weeks at a time, I would love to read about it!
 
I was planning to make a cookie tin water heater (do a search here) but dh thinks our 3 gallon waterer (which I only fill to 2.5 gallon or probably 2 in the winter) will collapse it. So I'm thinking about one with a cinder block or something. I am going to make one for the dog's water though.
 
I put it in the coop in the winter in case I can't get them outside early or there's too much snow for them to go out.
I'll also put water outside a couple times during the day. I have extension cords everywhere but I'm planning on running electricity before winter (fingers crossed).
If running extensions, it's important to protect them with GFCI outlets (to save your life) and wrap all connections exposed to the weather with plastic and tape to keep them from tripping the GFCI (to keep the electricity on). I elevate the connections too to keep them from sitting in water.
I had 3 coops last winter and 5 this year so I hope I can get power run to most of them soon.
 
You can see my water system on my page. Yes we have electricity in the coop. Gets very cold here -38 last winter.

But for quick reference, 5 gallon bucket with poultry nipples, and a bird bath de-icer. We have a 130 gallon storage tank, with a stock tank heater and pump to fill the bucket.
 
I also have a heated dog bowl. I think it holds 1 1/2 gallons, which was enough for my flock of 17. The cord is wrapped in wire (so a dog cannot chew it), but you do need electricity in the coop. It worked great last winter! It does not come on until the water drops below 40 degrees. It was so easy to take it out in the morning, wipe it clean with snow, and refill it with a couple of jugs I carry from the house. We bought ours from Amazon.

There are also lots of ideas on Youtube. We liked this idea (although we never tried it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f5NP1qGRCk
Good luck and have fun!
 
Quote:
I use those in my small coops in the runs, they are covered. Looked those up and glad I bought last year. I got mine 4 $ cheaper then this years price. Watch for sells also. Sometimes that stuff sells cheap. I use a heated 3 gallon water I got at Meyer for 39$.
 

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