Frozen waters

[Annalyse]

Today in nj it was now cold enough to turn the chickens waterers into ice cubes. Even the horizontal nipples froze. I have two waterers. Ine that sits on the ground (3 gallons) and one that hangs with horizontal nipples. How can I keep them from freezing without any electrical source.
Every morning before I leave I have hot water for them. By the time they get out of the coop itll be warm. (I give water at 5:30 am before I leave)

 

[neo71665]

Gonna be hard to do without power. Can ya not run a power cord out there temp?

 

[kerbotx]

I set my waterer on a cookie tin that has an incandescent light bulb inside, and that's just enough to keep the water flowing into the trough - as described here: https://the-chicken-chick.com/make-cookie-tin-waterer-heater-under-10/

Now, that requires electricity, but I wonder if the cookie tin could house something else that gets warm enough to provide the same results, either battery-operated or rechargeable? Say a small lantern or string lights or are there long-lasting hand warmers that might do the trick?

 

[Annalyse]

Gonna be hard to do without power. Can ya not run a power cord out there temp?

I dont like to run any electricity out there unless I'm home. Idk how itll react during these temperatures. Ik in the morning they have water but after that temperature gets colder.

 

[neo71665]

Electricity will act the same in cold as it does in warm weather. Licensed electrician BTW. Just get an outdoor rated cord. How I got my heater set up is on a timer. Not near as cold here where you are but I run mine for a few hours every morning it drops below freezing. Plug it up the night before freezing is suggested. The rest of the time I unplug it and it just sits in the 5 gallon bucket.

 

[KelseyBoxer]

I am also in NJ. I have found a plug-in heated dog bowl. It has worked for 2 years now. I use an outdoor extension cord and a thermo-cube plug that turns on when the temps drop.

 

[jreardon1918]

I dont like to run any electricity out there unless I'm home. Idk how itll react during these temperatures. Ik in the morning they have water but after that temperature gets colder.

If you can't get electricity you could bring water in bowls. Maybe the black rubber bowls. Try to leave them where sun could warm them. Do that just before you leave and when you get home. I would imagine that the chickens could peck through the developing ice. In NJ you probably don't get long lasting cold like some of our northern neighbors.

Our first year (SE Mass) we ran an extension cord to the HN 5 gallon bucket. That worked until we got an electrician on the job.

Good luck

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine freezes regularly.

I provide water in the morning and again when I get home. I have been doing it that way for years and years. So far no one seems stressed or suffered for just having me tend it twice a day.

 

[Annalyse]

water didn't freeze today and they ate some snow when I let them out lol so they seem fine. They love the ice and snow well they like eating it so I'm gonna guess the frozen water is a treat for them. thank you all for the suggestions and help.

 

[MaryW2K]

We are now getting some freezing nights. I only have eight chickens. I take the waterer in each night and bring warm water out every morning. I even microwave a few cups and add it in. I ferment food so ya I admit it I slightly warm it up for them. I know crazy right?. They sit through the whole night in the coop/shed I feel it is only fair I provide some not frozen water and some above room temp food in the am. LOL I hope they appreciate it. They seem to. The last couple of days were kinda rough. My big fat girl orpington has been limping but getting better cuz I kept her fat butt in a couple days to keep her form perching. Oh and my poor Lacy Jade speckeled sussex got attacked by a hawk near the deck. I went in to get a drink and the screaming began. I ran out and omg my poor baby was nailed to the ground by this little hawk. I screamed and yelled noooo and threw my cup at it and hit it and it let go of her she ran off and well the hubs had plans for that hawk . Sorry. My Lacy is a okay. She was so scared she would not even come out of the coop for hours. The others finally convinced her and she is good but my easter eggers and my australorp are on high alert and terryified. I finally got them to come back out. I will not let them out without me out there from now on. That was terrifying. They all spent some time in the sunshine today with me and went to bed happy chickens. I feel this is a happy ending to a crazy couple of days. Thanks for listening. I feel like this is the only place that would understand this madness and love for chickens. They are so sweet and some not but I love them all.