First frost - HELP

[ChickenGirl555]

Today was the first frost. It surprised me seeing how all the temperatures have been about the same for a while, 30F-50F. But then this came, and when I did my morning check on my girls to let them in their run, the water was a whole ice block!! I’ve heard of heating pads, but I need something without electricity, or is there a method to PREVENT it from freezing? I brought my pullets some hot (but not too hot) water, so it hopefully won’t freeze when I’m not home. They immediately started drinking when I placed it in the coop (they came in from the run because they were interested in what I was doing). Here are some pics of my coop, and it doesn’t have any electricity. It is a moving coop with three parts, so if there’s an area better, like behind the house or something, please let me know. Here are some pictures of my setup and pullets.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That's a cute set up and pretty ladies.

We only get occasional frost so my suggestion may be irrelevant for deep freezing... but simply placing it under the covered coop might work. For us under things like trees, house over hang and such keeps it from freezing.

I wonder of there is some sort of solar powered water heater?

 

[Perry17]

It doesn't freeze very often here, so not sure how well these suggestions will work. Lol

For my bigger livestock, horses/goats/cattle, I use a big deep rubber tank that is black. Because there is so much water, I can just break the ice at the top every morning. And the black tank warms up faster during the day and helps melt the ice.

For my poultry, I still like to use a big black rubber tank, but one of the flat ones that are like half a foot tall incase they fall in. If you can't find one of those, a kiddie pool is like $5 you could try that out. But don't know if it will fit in your run.

And since I leave my hoses running anyway when it's freezing, to keep ours pipes from busting. I just let it drip in the water dishes. It doesn't get very cold here, maybe high 20s at the least a couple days a year. So not sure how this will work either.

You could try just one of those really big gravity waterers, and maybe you could wrap it in a tarp/insulation type thing? Not sure how that would work.

I love winter... until it gets here and I remember you have to worry about stuff like that.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

That's a cute set up and pretty ladies.

We only get occasional frost so my suggestion may be irrelevant for deep freezing... but simply placing it under the covered coop might work. For us under things like trees, house over hang and such keeps it from freezing.

I wonder of there is some sort of solar powered water heater?

Thank you, and I'll try putting it in the warmest spot tonight

 

[Titan Farm]

First, Hot or warm water will freeze quicker than cold water.
Second, Offering hot or warm water (or food) to poultry can cause a number of problems.
Poultry drinking overly warm water can have a depressed feed consumption and in the winter tend to get ill quicker than one on cool to cold water.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

First, Hot or warm water will freeze quicker than cold water.
Second, Offering hot or warm water (or food) to poultry can cause a number of problems.
Poultry drinking overly warm water can have a depressed feed consumption and in the winter tend to get ill quicker than one on cool to cold water.

It's true than warm/hot water CAN freeze faster than regular... doesn't mean it will. There are tons of variables.

 

[chickens really]

If you can?....Water first thing in the morning as Chickens don't need water all night but do all day..Refesh as it freezes...I use rubber livestock bowls so easy to kick out ice..Multiple trips outside to freshen water daily..
I wrap my Run in vapour barrier plastic to keep out wind and snow...

 

[ChickenGirl555]

If you can?....Water first thing in the morning as Chickens don't need water all night but do all day..Refesh as it freezes...I use rubber livestock bowls so easy to kick out ice..Multiple trips outside to freshen water daily..
I wrap my Run in vapour barrier plastic to keep out wind and snow...

I think I'll do this. I did melt the ice with hot water and refilled it for the day.

 

[Chichi_08]

I just purchased a heated water base from my local feed store ( my water froze last night at -10 c) This should keep it from freezing for most of the nights but on the very cold days I have two jugs. I plan on keeping one in at night in order to prevent it from freezing.