watering in the winter

[The Adams Family Farm]

as this is my first winter with my flock (5 hens & 2 ducks) i am looking to figure out how to store a large amount water in their run, without it freezing. i have purchased a 3 gallon heated watering can (plastic) but they are going through almost 2 refills a day. any tips??

 

[nuthatched]

They shouldn't be going through that much water, are the ducks wasting it? Is it spilling?

 

[The Adams Family Farm]

They shouldn't be going through that much water, are the ducks wasting it? Is it spilling?

i’m thinking it’s mostly the ducks. in the spring and fall, they always drank the most. i have it on a level ground so it doesn’t spill.

 

[nuthatched]

i’m thinking it’s mostly the ducks. in the spring and fall, they always drank the most. i have it on a level ground so it doesn’t spill.

Do they have a little pool? It would help them not swill the water and help them stay clean.

 

[Momma-Hen-Misti]

I have a 5 gallon waterer on a heated base I purchased from K & H. I have 13 hens. You could potentially get a larger waterer to use on the heated base. It keeps the water in the tray thawed plus some. I've never had a problem with it freezing. I'm in SW Missouri.