Chickens not drinking outside.

[LizzzyJo]

I moved my waterer outside of the coop a few weeks ago to heat it. The girls are fine with this and drink outside. But now - the dreaded SNOW ATTACKS! They won’t go outside to drink What do I do? It’s going to be snowing a lot (this is their first winter), so my gut tells me to wait them out, but they’re so cute and fluffy that I want to bring them water in their coop everyday so they don’t have to go outside.

What do I do?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Is there snow on the ground between the pop door and waterer?

Mine refuse to step in the snow. I end up shoveling paths for them.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Is there snow on the ground between the pop door and waterer?

Mine refuse to step in the snow. I end up shoveling paths for them.

The run is covered. There’s just a light dusting on the ground and ramp.

Is it ok if they refuse to drink in the morning until 9 o’clock?

 

[21hens-incharge]

They can wait til 9am. I like to have water at the same time there is food available. Is 9am the earliest you can get water to them?

 

[LizzzyJo]

It ranges between 7:30-9 because of work. Today they’ve been open for an hour and still haven’t come out to drink!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think if they get thirsty enough they will come out. They know where the water is.

Yeah, try not to worry.

 

[WindingRoad]

I moved my waterer outside of the coop a few weeks ago to heat it. The girls are fine with this and drink outside. But now - the dreaded SNOW ATTACKS! They won’t go outside to drink What do I do? It’s going to be snowing a lot (this is their first winter), so my gut tells me to wait them out, but they’re so cute and fluffy that I want to bring them water in their coop everyday so they don’t have to go outside.

What do I do?

I started my chickens outside early on. Try a trail of treats to get them out before you feed them. Mealworms come to mind. That will usually get my birds out. Now that it's so cold I just open the drop down coop door and let them decide if they want to come out. If they want to come out they will fly out. My BO and ISAB didn't used to fly out. But my 2 SLW flew out the first day. Sally(BO) and Bert (ISAB) were not to be out done by the kids and now they will fly out and fly back in when they have had enough cold feet. When the stop wandering around and start standing on one leg I will pick them up and put them back in the coop.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I started my chickens outside early on. Try a trail of treats to get them out before you feed them. Mealworms come to mind. That will usually get my birds out. Now that it's so cold I just open the drop down coop door and let them decide if they want to come out. If they want to come out they will fly out. My BO and ISAB didn't used to fly out. But my 2 SLW flew out the first day. Sally(BO) and Bert (ISAB) were not to be out done by the kids and now they will fly out and fly back in when they have had enough cold feet. When the stop wandering around and start standing on one leg I will pick them up and put them back in the coop.

Their food is inside the coop. Should I only have it for them if they’re outside?

 

[WindingRoad]

Their food is inside the coop. Should I only have it for them if they’re outside?

I stopped feeding out side because of leftovers for the squirrels. Just in case you don't know I HATE SQUIRRELS. Besides I have banked the whole coop with snow. And can't get into my run. I filled my feeder in the run full. 20lbs of feed and when it gets low I will have to dig out the walk in door. I am retired and am home most days or only gone long enough to buy groceries, check mail at PO. So I change out their water every couple of hours. I have a small pint container. Most time they don't finish it all. But I put clean water out. I have a metal waterer and a base heater outside. When they come out they do use that. My hen house is frozen to the ground so no way to get that heater inside now. I'm hoping to expand this spring.

 

[centrarchid]

If snow is present, then your birds are likely meeting water requirements by directly or incidentally consuming snow. My free-range birds have little or no need for liquid water during the winter months, especially when snow or frost is present. The also meet water needs by consuming living vegetative plant and animal forages they scratch up.