Can they drink from a bowl on the ground?

[lilchickenz]

They seemed confused. I had to give them a bowl on the ground because the chicken nipple froze. Not sure how to prevent that. It's still pretty warm (about 30F) and yet the nipple still froze.

 

[PheasantsFirst]

Chickens will drink out of everything, just give them some time to figure it out.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: You realize that's BELOW freezing temperature don't you?

 

[debid]

Two words -- bucket heater. No frozen water here.

 

[lilchickenz]

You realize that's BELOW freezing temperature don't you?

Yes I guess what I was trying to say was that as it gets colder they're just going to freeze faster. I don't see how the chicken nipples are much good in cold climate. The bowls I put out for them today I had to change 3 times because they froze. Today the high was 32F and hovered around 29F all day. I know that's at and below freezing, but it'll get much colder than that as the winter goes on. I don't want to be out there 10 times a day giving them new water. I'm working on some way to insulate and heat some other type of waterer. I should have thought of this seeing as it's winter here most of the year, duh. I was looking at this page, what do you think: http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...icken-waterer-zm0z13fmzhun.aspx#axzz2kT4aHUpl

 

[lilchickenz]

Where do I get a bucket heater? What is it made from? Does it go inside (the bucket), outside or?? Thanks

 

[Going Quackers]

Yes, they sure do. Since mine free range they often drink from the bowls the ducks have, as well i use a heated dog bowl in their coop. Never had nipple waterers here so i would expect some time for the change over, chickens aren't much for change(neither are ducks, they are all heavy routine animals)

 

[debid]

I bought my bucket heater online (Blain's Farm & Fleet had the best price). It's just a submersible utility deicer (like for birdbaths) that has a built-in thermostat so it won't heat the water excessively. Here's a link to the one I bought: http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/562535-allied-precision-bucket-utility-de-icer.html

I put it in the bottom of the bucket (it's safe for plastic!) right by where the nipples poke through. If you go with this one, just be sure to slide the little stopper up the cord to compress the chew coil a little so it's above the water line. That coil will rust if it's under water.

 

[Jake1297]

Instead of a bucket heater you can also get a heated water bowl for a dog. It is much cheaper, around $19. I have three in my coop and never have a problem of frozen water. They also hold about a gallon of water each. Look for them online.

 

[lilchickenz]

Thanks everyone, I have something else rigged up. They had been drinking from an inverted Aquafina water bottle with a chicken nipple in the cap. I'd been wanting to do something different for them anyway. I now have a stainless steel bucket (holds about a gallon) with chicken nipples, wrapped with water pipe heat tape and wrapped over that with reflectix insulation (which I had here anyway).

It holds a lot more water than the Aquafina bottle so hopefully the greater volume, heat tape, and reflectix will keep it from freezing. It's warm now so will have to wait and see. Only problem I see is the chickens like to peck and pull at the reflectix and the reflectix just being bubble paper with a thin layer of metal over it, I hope the heat tape doesn't get hot enough to melt it. Maybe I can wrap it with something else to keep the heat in, dunno what would be chicken-safe, though.