Chick Safe Winter Water

[MEMama3]

Chicks should be hatching in 16 days. I thought about many different issues of broody hatching in the coop in the dead of winter, but I didn't think of the water. I can keep the big water dishes away from the chicks (one is already mounted at roost height because my buff orp gets bullied and trapped up there sometimes) and I could always set up the second dish off the second roost, but what can I do for the chicks that won't freeze instantly?

My thought (and I don't know if it would work) was to use a shallow dish and heat some rocks to put in the bottom so it would be drown-safe. I would think the rocks would keep it warm for quite a bit.

 

[aart]

I'd just use 2 chick waterers, the hot rocks might help if they are metal waterers, and switch it out every few hours.

That is what I had to do with this last frigid cold snap for a sequestered rooster, only had one water heater...I also left a bowl of snow in there that he would peck at.

I'd avoid a shallow pan that they might walk into.