Cockerel's waddles dipping in water (winter)

[Jenjens]

Good morning,

I use a regular chicken water hanging container (not sure what it is called) and my cockerel's waddles dip in the water. I knew it would be a problem in the winter, but I didn't think winter was coming just yet! So now I need to think. I am assuming his waddles getting wet in the cold is not healthy and could give him frostbite. I live in Illinois. We had our first snow yesterday and it was in the low 20s already last night. Water froze overnight as well, but we have a heated dog bowl that we were going to use....now I am not so sure...that would make it even worse for him.

I don't have a lot of money to buy the nipple waterer, and I am afraid they wouldn't know how to use it since I heard they need to learn at an early age. Does anyone have any suggestions? By the way, they still are pretty young at almost 6 months.

If there is no other way around it, I would have to try the nipple waterer, but thought I'd ask here first for any other input.

Thanks!

 

[Duck_life]

My chickens drink out of a bucket and do just fine, i'm not experienced but i'm sure @Wyorp Rock could help.

 

[rosemarysugar]

@Wyorp Rock

 

[DobieLover]

You can make something like this.
I will be installing a thermostatically controlled birdbath heater that is designed for metal or plastic bird baths to keep this from freezing in the winter. I may also wrap it in some form of insulation and then a protective blanket over that.

I also will have a fount style heated waterer in the run for the chickens that don't like to drink from the horizontal nipples as much as the rest. They all visit the above nipple waterer regularly, but some far more than others.

The fount waterer will be installed on a platform that will keep it about chest level to minimize the chance of long wattles getting dipped in the water. I just ordered the waterer 2 days ago so I don't have it yet.

 

[Jenjens]

View attachment 1949166
You can make something like this.
I will be installing a thermostatically controlled birdbath heater that is designed for metal or plastic bird baths to keep this from freezing in the winter. I may also wrap it in some form of insulation and then a protective blanket over that.

I also will have a fount style heated waterer in the run for the chickens that don't like to drink from the horizontal nipples as much as the rest. They all visit the above nipple waterer regularly, but some far more than others.

The fount waterer will be installed on a platform that will keep it about chest level to minimize the chance of long wattles getting dipped in the water. I just ordered the waterer 2 days ago so I don't have it yet.

Wow. That sure is creative. I am really interested to see what that fount waterer looks like.

 

[MROO]

Good morning,

I use a regular chicken water hanging container (not sure what it is called) and my cockerel's waddles dip in the water. I knew it would be a problem in the winter, but I didn't think winter was coming just yet! So now I need to think. I am assuming his waddles getting wet in the cold is not healthy and could give him frostbite. I live in Illinois. We had our first snow yesterday and it was in the low 20s already last night. Water froze overnight as well, but we have a heated dog bowl that we were going to use....now I am not so sure...that would make it even worse for him.

I don't have a lot of money to buy the nipple waterer, and I am afraid they wouldn't know how to use it since I heard they need to learn at an early age. Does anyone have any suggestions? By the way, they still are pretty young at almost 6 months.

If there is no other way around it, I would have to try the nipple waterer, but thought I'd ask here first for any other input.

Thanks!

Nipple waterers are REALLY easy to make and super cheap, besides. All you really need is a five-gallon plastic bucket with a lid (sold at most feed, hardware, lumber and Walmart-type stores) and a packet of chicken nipples (that looks and sounds really weird!) There are lots of super-easy tutorials here on BYC. If you search, I'm sure you can find one that fits your budget. If you want to keep it from freezing, an aquarium or pond heater designed to quit or keep running when dry is a good investment. It'll probably be the most expensive part of the whole set-up. Don't worry too much about older birds learning how to use water nipples. You can show a few, and once the others see, they'll generally follow suit.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about the nipple waterers I use open bowls year round.

 

[Alaskan]

I too use open rubber bowls.

I do have a couple of roosters with large wattles.

I once or twice have had a rooster get his wattles trimmed a bit by frostbite... but it is rare, and hasn't happened in a few years.