New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Winter water?

post #1 of 140
10/9/12 at 9:23am
Thread Starter 

This is my first winter with chickens.  I live in central Minnesota, and have 14 hens and a rooster.  I am getting concerned about the winter watering situation.  We have electricity to our coop, but not running water.  I currently have a 3 gallon galvanized waterer, which is fine, but not for winter.  It is too big to lug into the house and wash in the sink every other day.  I would like to find something that is small enough to wash in the sink, won't freeze and doesn't cost a fortune.  I was thinking about going with a few of the small animal (like hamster) water bottles, but am worried about the ball freezing.  I can't find a one gallon galvanized waterer (then I could just get a heated base).  I have been reading on here the pros and cons of heating the coop, and have decided to try the not heating method first--we'll see how it goes!!  Please tell me how you have solved your winter watering problems!!

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Raising Chickens on a Shoestring
Join Our 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long
post #2 of 140
10/9/12 at 9:38am

This is what I use in the winter. You don't have any waterfowl, so you may only need to refill every few days. I do find if you don't have this set flat, it will trickle out very slowly and create an ice pond.

Good choice on not heating the coop. I definitely say spring for the heated waterer.

Last winter when I lived elsewhere, I didn't have running water in the garage. I brought a mop bucket out every morning and filled the waterer outside. That was easier than bringing it in and doing it under the sink.

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #3 of 140
10/9/12 at 10:57am

I have a similar issue, i own waterfowl and horses and have a barn cat lol so i am already familiar with winter and water but i use heated buckets and heated troughs for all of them, the chickens i am a bit lost on how and what to do, i know they make heated waterers like Aoxa showed but unlike you i don't have that many chickens.. only 4 and these heated ones seem ridiculously large for a smaller flock.hmm.png

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #4 of 140
10/9/12 at 11:03am

I have electricity to the runs.  I use a plastic, heated dog bowl like this: 

 

http://www.wag.com/dog/p/farm-innovators-p-60-premium-heated-pet-bowl-60-watt-455639?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_W&utm_term=FPS-32805&utm_campaign=GooglePLA&CAWELAID=1418912555&utm_content=pla&ca_sku=FPS-32805&ca_gpa=pla&ca_kw={keyword}

 

They come in different sizes and are easy to keep clean (I actually use them all year round).

 

Quote:

What if the Hokey Pokey Really is What it's All About

 

 

Reply

 

Quote:

What if the Hokey Pokey Really is What it's All About

 

 

Reply
post #5 of 140
10/9/12 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eggsoteric View Post

I have electricity to the runs.  I use a plastic, heated dog bowl like this: 

 

http://www.wag.com/dog/p/farm-innovators-p-60-premium-heated-pet-bowl-60-watt-455639?site=CA&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc_W&utm_term=FPS-32805&utm_campaign=GooglePLA&CAWELAID=1418912555&utm_content=pla&ca_sku=FPS-32805&ca_gpa=pla&ca_kw={keyword}

 

They come in different sizes and are easy to keep clean (I actually use them all year round).


I was curious if anyone had any experience with these and chickens, good to hear feedback! i think that would be better for my small flock, the other types again seem like overkill and chickens don't make such a water mess anyhow.. my ducks would swim in that roll.png we had to downsize our heated buckets because they were swimming in them last winter lol

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #6 of 140
10/9/12 at 11:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Going Quackers View Post

I have a similar issue, i own waterfowl and horses and have a barn cat lol so i am already familiar with winter and water but i use heated buckets and heated troughs for all of them, the chickens i am a bit lost on how and what to do, i know they make heated waterers like Aoxa showed but unlike you i don't have that many chickens.. only 4 and these heated ones seem ridiculously large for a smaller flock.hmm.png
For instances like yours: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/11/make-cookie-tin-waterer-heater-under-10.html Check this out. Simple and inexpensive smile.png

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #7 of 140
10/9/12 at 1:19pm
Small bucket with nipples and a lid and a 50 watt aquarium heater.

I use a 2.5 gallon bucket. for 15 chickens. Then all you have to do is bring a gallon of water out every day to fill. Plastic milk jug works great.
You only need to clean once a month and you don't get water all over the coop.

I have been using this system for three or four years now and it is very little work.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 140
10/10/12 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by aoxa View Post

For instances like yours: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/11/make-cookie-tin-waterer-heater-under-10.html Check this out. Simple and inexpensive smile.png


Thank you for the detailed link! yes, i think this is the option i will be taking the other type seems expensive and impractical for a petite flock, the ladies have a 2GAL waterer that never runs dry, i just obviously re-fill it so they simply do not require a larger contraption.

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply

~ Firefly Farms home of Miniature horses, 14 Muscovy ducks, 2 calls ducks ( 2 buff ducks joining this spring), 4 Ameraucana chickens(1/2 doz Silkies coming spring, darn chicken math finally got me) , Lionhead rabbits and your typical dogs, cats, fish, and parrots...

 

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #9 of 140
10/10/12 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 

Thanks everyone for so much great info!  I have decided to try the bucket with nipples.  I hope my girls don't have too much trouble figuring out "where the water went"!

Reply
Reply
post #10 of 140
10/10/12 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Going Quackers View Post


Thank you for the detailed link! yes, i think this is the option i will be taking the other type seems expensive and impractical for a petite flock, the ladies have a 2GAL waterer that never runs dry, i just obviously re-fill it so they simply do not require a larger contraption.


make sure you run the cord through the socket nipple, if not it may fray apart on the edges of the can

3 Delawares, 3 GWs, 3 BLRs, and 2 Buckeyes
Reply
3 Delawares, 3 GWs, 3 BLRs, and 2 Buckeyes
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Feeding & Watering Your Flock

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Why Join BackYard Chickens?
Raising Chickens on a Shoestring
Join Our 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long