Giving water twice a day - no heating

[FoxRiverRat]

Hi all,

I thought I had a great solution to heating water. needless to say the 1st attempt at this battery powered water heater failed, and I need to rework it. in the meantime, If I give them water at 7 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. Will that be ok? I figure the water will take a bit to freeze, so say it freezes by 9 or 10 a.m., they'll at least get a good drink in the morning. then have to wait until I get back from work. Will they be ok with this arrangement? I pretty much have no choice with the complications I ran into. Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Or just get a 12 volt car battery and a cheap inverter (runs around $50) and you can then plug in any small heating device such as a cookie tin water heater with a 60 watt bulb which keeps water from freezing all day.

 

[junebuggena]

The thing is, when they go to roost, they don't come back down for a drink. That means that they won't actually drink the water you give them in the evening. A waterer that sits in the sunshine all day long isn't likely to freeze up completely. Another trick is to put a ball in the space where they drink. The motion of the ball floating will help keep the water moving, taking it longer to freeze.

 

[Howard E]

Here is a concept I've been kicking around for an electricity free, freeze free water deliver system. Basically, bury the water supply under dirt or a big pile of compost like this guy did:

The modification I'd make is instead of a valve like he shows, just put an end cap on where he shows a valve and insert a horizontal nipple in the end cap. Bury about 4' to 8' of 4" pvc (or larger) water pipe as deep as need be to keep it from freezing. Or you could use a 55 gallon drum or even larger supply tanks like he shows. Just make sure they are buried deep enough the cold won't penetrate to them to freeze them.

The end cap may be exposed, but may not freeze as the bulk of the water supply is buried and kept warm by either the compost, or simply the latent heat in the ground. This would not need to be "working" compost. Just dirt, compost or some insulating material to keep the water down deep from freezing. To fill the pipe, install a "T" in the system and extend a vertical riser with a cap on it. Put a hose in that and fill it or pour in your water with a funnel.

We had stock tanks like this years ago. They were concrete and the majority of the tank was buried into the pond dam, leaving only a small hole exposed for cattle to drink from. They never did freeze.

 

[Folly's place]

Last summer we spent to rent a trencher a bury a water line to a frost-free hydrant at the coop, and this fall we MET CODE by burying an electric line to the coop. With 48 chickens to overwinter, and getting very tired of carrying water 150 ft. to the coop, it was a good investment. Also, not horribly expensive to rent the trenchers and make it happen. Consider actually pricing out the projects and see if it's worth it to you. I do have friends, home all the time, who take fresh water out three times daily all winter, and it's fine. I work and can't make that happen here! Mary

 

[3riverschick]

Hi all,

I thought I had a great solution to heating water. needless to say the 1st attempt at this battery powered water heater failed, and I need to rework it. in the meantime, If I give them water at 7 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. Will that be ok? I figure the water will take a bit to freeze, so say it freezes by 9 or 10 a.m., they'll at least get a good drink in the morning. then have to wait until I get back from work. Will they be ok with this arrangement? I pretty much have no choice with the complications I ran into. Thanks!

Go to the grocery or bakery store and buy a small bottle of food grade glycerin. The kind they use to make frosting shiny. Put a small amount on top the water in an open dish. It will not freeze and will keep a hole open for them to drink. It will not hurt them if they should drink some of the glycerin too. I got this tip from a now deceased veteran British poultry man.
Best,
Karen

 

[jcoz]

When it is freezing or below, I use warm water in the waterer and wrap it with one of those neoprene "belly buster" belts. Keeps the waterer from freezing for quite a long time, even over night. I do change my water twice daily though, before i go to work in the morning and before the girls pen up. It worked for me in teen to 20 degree weather last year and actually a few below 0 nights. I just make sure the neoprene isn't touching the water. Your mileage may vary...

 

[junebuggena]

Warm water will take longer to freeze. And placing the waterers in the sun will help keep them from freezing before you get back home. By 6, it's already dark in a lot of regions, so the birds may already be cooped up.

 

[FoxRiverRat]

Hi Junebuggena,

Yes, the chickens will be in the coop for the night at 6 pm, but I have a waterer in there for them too, so I can put drinkable water in there every day when I get home. Just not sure if that stretch of time without water is too long. thanks for the reply

 

[FoxRiverRat]

ah, gotcha. I didn't know once they roosted that was it for the night lol. good to know. Ok, so then that is rough to basically have water for 3 hours a day... yikes!

good thought with the ball. I'll have to do everything I can, until I get this battery system working.

thanks!