Concern for the winter months. Freezing Water!!

[NJ Mike]

I have four hens within a small coop. I've been setting up the water and feed below the coop within there run. I have winter concerns with frozen water.. I've researched the site and found the tractor supply heater for the double walled water dispenser. Does anyone have any other suggestions for non-freezing water dispensers. I'm kinda limited in space... thanks NJ Mike

 

[extrememainer]

Well what kind of water do you put out meaning hot or cold?

 

[Li'lFlock]

I just purchased this 1qt bowl for my 3 girls at menards. Decent reviews with the occasional dud. No-tip design, sitting on half of a cinder block.

 

[jthornton]

A heated dog water bowl will be fine. In NJ you will need heat for a small bowl like that.

JT

 

[blackdog043]

Heated dog bowl up on a block, they make different sizes. You could also make a 5 gallon horizontal nipple waterer and put a stock tank deicer in it. The nipples and deicer can be found on Amazon.

 

[aart]

Does anyone have any other suggestions for non-freezing water dispensers. I'm kinda limited in space...

It's pretty hard to heat a small container, why most commercial heated waterers are at least 10-12" in diameter.

I made this one, it has about a 6x9 foot print.

If you don't have room for heated waterer, your setup might be too small.
You may have to do the 'swap out' method, getting 2-3 smaller waterers and swapping them out thru the day to keep them in liquid water. If you work all day away from home, that can be impossible.

What are you using for water now?

 

[chickens really]

Also a Bird bath heater can be used...I only carry water out 3 times a Day......I hate Winter....

 

[JackE]

I'd recommend a cookie tin heater. This will be the 8th winter for the one I built for less than $5. It uses a 40W bulb, and works perfectly to keep the water unfrozen. Although, I have found, if the temp gets below 10F, I have to put a 60W bulb in it. You can go, and throw 50-60 bucks on some foreign junk, that may last a week, or maybe a year. With the cookie tin, as long as you have access to cheap light bulbs, it will last for years. Below is a link to show you how to slap one together.


http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/11/make-cookie-tin-waterer-heater-under-10.html