Food and water during winter in extreme cold....

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I added some of the nipples to my amazon cart.

I only have 8 birds. The 15 gallon drum is simply to make it easier during the winter months, especially during extreme cold snaps. There was a period last year where the temp didn't get above -40 for 2-3 weeks, even hit -60 at one point, and during times like that we just figured it would be easier to have a water container that we don't need to add water to for several days if needed.

what breed of chickens are your 8 Faberbutt? How old?! would love to see a pic of them. Good luck. I didnt read the whole thread but my certain advice would be to check on the hens multiple times a day. -60f Yokes!!

 

[Joycomesinthemorning]

I live in Minnesota. This will be my 1st winter with 4 hens. I have a 5 gallon pail with 4 nipples in the run. When ice started forming, I added a heated bird bath stone which automatically turns on at 35 degrees. It's been working well to keep the water thawed but, unfortunately, the nipples froze. Still trying to find a solution...

 

[aart]

I live in Minnesota. This will be my 1st winter with 4 hens. I have a 5 gallon pail with 4 nipples in the run. When ice started forming, I added a heated bird bath stone which automatically turns on at 35 degrees. It's been working well to keep the water thawed but, unfortunately, the nipples froze. Still trying to find a solution...

Vertical(bottom of vessel) or horizontal(sides of vessel) nipples?
Is waterer in the coop or outside?
Pics might help here.

 

[Joycomesinthemorning]

Vertical(bottom of vessel) or horizontal(sides of vessel) nipples?
Is waterer in the coop or outside?
Pics might help here.

Vertical outside. The tricky part of switching pails is I can't set them on the ground for fear of damaging the nipples and wanting to keep them clean. I might just need to bring the pail in at night and hang it up somewhere but will continue to look for long term, minimal maintenance solution.

 

[aart]

Vertical outside. The tricky part of switching pails is I can't set them on the ground for fear of damaging the nipples and wanting to keep them clean. I might just need to bring the pail in at night and hang it up somewhere but will continue to look for long term, minimal maintenance solution.

Vertical nipples don't work well, especially for heated waterers.
Plus the pain of having to hang them.
I'd highly recommend horizontal nipples, either DIY or purchased.
Here's the DIY I've used for ~10 years now:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[paintedChix]

So, the drum and buckets have those little cups that fill with water but they're otherwise covered. I plan on getting submersible water heaters to keep the water from freezing.

I'd heard about the walking on snow thing before! The run will probably get snow in it, at least to an extent. It's against our garage so the back length of it is protected and we plan on wrapping a good portion of the exposed areas with tarp to block the frigid wind and snow as much as we can. Since it'll be wrapped, we're also adding a daytime light to the side of the garage, inside the run, so that they'll still a good amount of light. It'll still be cold, of course, but we're trying to make it so that they can still use the run as much as possible.

For winter use, you can switch from the cups to the nipples. The cups freeze solid, even here in the sandhills of NC. Our temps are much warmer, but...

Instead of using tarps to wrap your run, use heavy duty, green house plastic. Stops wind & snow, but allows daylight in & aids in warming as well.

For snow in the run, use woodchips, shredded cardboard, straw, leaves on top of snow. They will walk on it in the cold, dig through it, scratch & manure it. In spring or about a month before you'd plant, transfer that to your garden beds.

Edit to add - this is why I should have read both pages before I posted. Others stated similar & added great links.