Water for winter?

[Ilovemychicks08]

Ok, this will be my third winter with chickens. I have a waterer i use in the summer but it cant be used in the winter. I also have a normal 1 gal watere that the bottom cracked using it the last 2 winters.
I bought a heated waterer that uses the nipple watering system they wont drink out of it. So im going to train the new chicks that are hatching to drink out of it.
What does everyone reccomend? The coldest it got here last year was negative 20 without windshields.
It only needs to be able to keep water unfrozen for a day ill immediately replace it the next day.

And one that wont break easily

Thanks in Advanced

 

[Sally PB]

I bought a heated dog water bowl at TSC. It lasted 2 seasons. I didn't think twice and bought another one. It made my life SO much easier.

I cut the cord off the one that quit working. Now it's just a nice big water bowl that is too big for the chickens to flip over.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Welll, like the examples above, it's just used in a container, and put a heater under it, BOOM!

I'm assuming then that you haven't actually tested it. A heated base only heats the water inside the body of the waterer. Any water in the cups should freeze. I don't see any explanation on how the interior mechanism of these cups differ from other cup waterers, which DO freeze in winter and cannot be used.

Horizontal nipples also freeze even when the waterer is heated internally due to the fact that that most of the trigger mechanism sits outside of the body of the waterer.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I did get 2 big green heated water bowls, last winter. they work great. I had those heated waterer red and white towers they ended up being junk though. (They were given to me.) Before that I would use those black plastic salt lick pans, they do end up getting cracked, usually not the first winter though. I would still use them, and when they crack I would still use them for feed.
I am home all the time so I would always bring fresh water, but the heated bowls are great if I have to go away for a day or 2.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I bought a heated dog water bowl at TSC. It lasted 2 seasons. I didn't think twice and bought another one. It made my life SO much easier.

I cut the cord off the one that quit working. Now it's just a nice big water bowl that is too big for the chickens to flip over.

heated dog bowl worked great last year! I turned it over at night (so it wasn't turned on all night) and filled it up in the morning, and it kept it from freezing, even when it was -30c!

I didnt think of that! Maybe ill try this!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I use rubber pans here. Bash them out and refill as needed. I also use some heated water buckets, and heated water bowls.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

heated dog bowl worked great last year! I turned it over at night (so it wasn't turned on all night) and filled it up in the morning, and it kept it from freezing, even when it was -30c!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I use rubber pans here. Bash them out and refill as needed. I also use some heated water buckets, and heated water bowls.

I forgot to mention i also do have the rubber bowls. They were easier to use.
Thank you!

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I did get 2 big green heated water bowls, last winter. they work great. I had those heated waterer red and white towers they ended up being junk though. (They were given to me.) Before that I would use those black plastic salt lick pans, they do end up getting cracked, usually not the first winter though. I would still use them, and when they crack I would still use them for feed.
I am home all the time so I would always bring fresh water, but the heated bowls are great if I have to go away for a day or 2.

Thank you! Im home almost all day to. Just dont want to haul water.

 

[RojoMarz]

I use this water year round. During the winter, I will add the heated base.