Best way to keep water from freezing?

[airmechreed]

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.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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.

 

[frostbite]

Hah!

I just got this mental image of my proposed flock of 6 laying hens and one pet silkie scurrying around their water dish like dancing honeybees vibrating their wings at the ice dish trying to make it melt....

 

[Parson's Wife]

This may sound silly, and I have not tried it, therefore I cannot recommend it.
However, if you are shy on electric lines going to the coop (for whatever reasons: lack of funds, fear of fires, etc..)
I met a gentleman in the hunting isle (not me, the Rev. was) he had a cart full of those keep warm packages...(cna't think of the name sorry) you simply squish them and they put out heat to keep hands or feet warm while outside, they work for up to 8 hours.
We talked about hunting, and he said, quote "I put these up under my waterers...it keeps the water from freezing on cold nights"

So there, absolutely no tried & true personal testimony, but thought I would pass it along.

 

[frostbite]

Me too! Me too!

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!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Cheaper but not easier.
Heavy rubber feed tub with a bird bath heater submerged.

 

[airmechreed]

Quote:
Do you keep this in the coup or outside on the ground? Do you have electricity by your coup or do you run an extension cord? Details please.

 

[gale65]

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.

 

[wyododge]

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.

 

[chickendude]

I use a heated dog water bowl from Tractor Supply. Works great. We had temps of -12F and never froze. But you do need electricity. Here is a link so you can check it out.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-ca...easons-electric-heated-pet-bowl-5-qt--2411794