Frozen Water

[blueshirt8876]

I have a plastic 3.5 gallon "water fountain" from Tractor Supply and now that it's Winter it has frozen up. The past couple days I've been bringing hot water down there once a day to help prevent it from freezing so quick, but as you may know, hot water freezes faster that cold water. I have no electricity down in the coop. How do I fix this problem?

 

[Chukarbuds]

Well, Ive stopped using plastic. I seen that the feed stores have "outrageous" prices on their rubber cattle feeders? You know.. they are black? Sure, you still have to kick them and the ice removes easily, but i checked out on the internet "rubber bowls". Believe it or not, i found real cheap rubber bowls from dentist sights. Only $3.50 plus shipping. Now I only have 3 chickens, so it fits nicely in their coop. I'm sorry I haven't a clue about the fountains. I hope some one can help you with your problem. I worry about my chickens not having water during the winter too. This is my first year with chickens and so far I've found that the rubber bowl fits my needs and is easy to get ice out of.

 

[chfite]

With no power nearby, you will likely be stuck bringing water down there to them.

Chris

 

[breakout]

We don't keep water in the coop unless it's really hot. The birds are out all day running around the yard until they are ready to sleep and they drink from a chicken nipple waterer fed from the house. If temps are going to be below freezing overnight we add some hot water to the tank and run it out the pipe before bed. If it's going into the 20s we throw a blanket over it. This seems to be working fine. The chickens go for water in the morning but they rarely seem to be anxious about getting there. In the summer we can eaily add ice to the tank. Adding some collodial silver and covering the tank so that it doesn't get light work well to prevent algae growth. Here's the link for details https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672358/my-chicken-watering-solution

 

[Faso]

I'm new as well. This is my first winter. I have looked pretty deep into this and there are a few options for you. Run an extension cord and put the water up on a cinder block. Put a light fixture in the middle under the water(hopefully metal waterer). The water will stay warm enough this way and you probably don't need it on 24/7...

I am setup for this but haven't done it yet. I keep a shovel next to the coop. I just go in before i leave for work and use the corner of the shovel to break the ice up a little. If you stay on top of it daily, it really shouldn't freeze solid. I haven't had it freeze solid yet. Just the top layer and most has been about an inch or so of frozen water. The shovel breaks that with a few simply smacks. It's always good for the day after that...

If it's much colder by you than by me in Jersey then you may need to do this more often but since you are using hot water now, i assume it's not that much colder and the shovel will break it just the same.

I guess your alternative would be to install a battery out by the coop for some general power just to keep the water luke warm for the winter months...

Faso

 

[AVintageLife]

I bought a one gallon heated dog water bowl from TSC ($19.99). I filled it with some sand and put a clay pot base on top of the sand. Then I set my plastic poultry waterer (I think it's a one gallon size) on top of the clay base. Had to run an outdoor electrical cord from the house to the coop. When the temp gets below 40 degrees, the dog water bowl starts up. So far it has worked great and during a weekend with below zero temps, the plastic waterer had only a little ice in the top of the container but still drinkable water at the bottom come the morning. I've since stitched up a little cozy for the plastic top out of one of those hot/cold bags they sell at Sam's Club. Will have to see if that helps when the temps drop again. I only did this because I was going away for the weekend and didn't want my friend watching the flock to have to lug water over every day. Works so well that I will be keeping it up and running for the rest of the winter.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

When it's cold enough for the water to freeze, I just use a bowl or something and haul warm water from the house.

~ Aspen

 

[mtbeak]

I won't even have my hens until March but am currently preparing the coop and run now. I did splurge on the self regulating water heater base for the 3 gallon metal double walled water that I got a few weeks ago, it was recommended to use with. I really won't even have to worry about the water freezing until next year...but, I have no idea if I am supposed to put the water IN the coop house? Or in their attached run? The "water heater base" has a warning on the top indicating high temperature/surface HOT and I wanted to use the deep litter method and am now concerned about fire. Will the girls throw the litter onto the base?? The heated electric base ALSO warns about keeping it indoors and protected from the elements... I have no idea how to continue the set up! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[sbmock]

I have been having the same problem. I found an inexpensive cookie tin on clearance and made a waterer warmer. I have a blog and you can find the post HERE.
We did have to run an extension cord to the coop but I would rather run a cord than run water out to them in below freezing weather just to have it freeze a few hours later. We only started w a 25 watt lightbulb just to keep the water above freezing. It is working in our temps for now. Good luck!

 

[Chukarbuds]

I have a plastic 3.5 gallon "water fountain" from Tractor Supply and now that it's Winter it has frozen up. The past couple days I've been bringing hot water down there once a day to help prevent it from freezing so quick, but as you may know, hot water freezes faster that cold water. I have no electricity down in the coop. How do I fix this problem?

We don't keep water in the coop unless it's really hot. The birds are out all day running around the yard until they are ready to sleep and they drink from a chicken nipple waterer fed from the house. If temps are going to be below freezing overnight we add some hot water to the tank and run it out the pipe before bed. If it's going into the 20s we throw a blanket over it. This seems to be working fine. The chickens go for water in the morning but they rarely seem to be anxious about getting there. In the summer we can eaily add ice to the tank. Adding some collodial silver and covering the tank so that it doesn't get light work well to prevent algae growth. Here's the link for details https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672358/my-chicken-watering-solution