For people who suffer from frozen waterers...

[ncCHICKS]

I just wanted to offer an idea. Couldn't you get an extra waterer and alternate them. When one freezes replace it and put the other inside to thaw... Just an idea. I'm lucky enough to have non freezing or barely freezing temps.

 

[kalaim]

It is a solution, I just don't like to get up as early as the chickens do in the cold!

I'd rather they wake up to fresh water and I don't have to worry too much.

But that is what I'm doing right now, until I find the right solution.

 

[NJfarmer]

My water freezes over night so it wouldnt work for me because I go to school in the morning so the chickens will have frozen water while I am at school. I just bought a water heater for my waterer its a lifesaver

 

[silkiechicken]

I just use those rubber buckets. Go out with a jug of hot tap water, pop out the cube, fill with hot water and let it be till it freezes again.

However... we get like 2 weeks of freezing a year so it's not that big of a deal here.

 

[redoak]

I've been doing waterer exchange every morning for my hens and bachelor pad. In the morning I let them out so I have to go out to the coop anyway so not much more work.

 

[NurseNettie]

Quote:
Where I am, it can freeze overnight or sooner-- sometimes a few hours. Not necessarily the whole waterer, but first and foremost, it freezes in the drinking "well", or where they need it to be fluid.

 

[Akane]

You can but here's a few annoyances...

Where do you put the thawing waterers? You now have several possibly somewhat dirty waterers sitting around in your house. For me the only spot would be the end of the kitchen near the back door.

I found out carrying a chicken waterer after filling and turning right side up is very difficult and spills everywhere. If you turn it back upside down the ice will thaw and run on the floor. So basic chicken waterers are out with that method. Buckets and other containers have to be used.

Water is heavy and so is ice. About 8lbs per gallon you have to carry back and forth every day.

Small containers of water freezes so quickly with negative temps you end up doing this minimum 2 and sometimes 3 plus times a day. Occasionally that leads to a backup of frozen containers sitting around thawing because the last one froze before the first one thawed. Larger containers of water don't take as long to freeze but are much more work to haul in and out.



For right now I'm using the rubber feed pans. I just flip the ice out and refill without having to haul the frozen water back inside. It still means finding time and being home to make multiple trips outside with my gallon jug. Still working on that electricity to my chicken coop.

 

[erinm]

In new England the heaters are definately a need. You could be changing the water sometimes 3 times a day in jan and Feb. i got a heater. what a wonderful thing! ErinM

 

[Msbear]

I carry a bucket of really warm water with me in the mornings. I have smaller waterers so I just hit them against the coop and bang out all the ice in the tray. I refill just the tray part with the really warm water (It's hot just not hot enough to burn beaks) This helps melt the water inside the waterer just enough to start flow again

Now this is November....In January, it'll be a whole new ball game

Anyone else have a real bad fealing about this winter? We've lucked out around here for the past few years. I think this ones going to be one for the record books.....accumulation and temps wise.... may the force be with us

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I use a heater. It is a life saver. We already have single digit temps in the morning and as the winter progresses it will get worse. Then there are those below zero days-all day. Heated water dish is the way to go for me!