Going to tractor supply today.....

[cluckmecoop7]

Ok. Thanks. Yes, I have nipple waterers but they freeze in the winter. I'll probably go ahead and get a hanging waterer.....

 

[NatJ]

Ok. Thanks. Yes, I have nipple waterers but they freeze in the winter. I'll probably go ahead and get a hanging waterer.....

It can be very helpful to have two waterers in the winter: one comes inside to thaw while the other is outside freezing. It's faster for me to switch waterers than to thaw one & refill it, and the waterer seems less likely to break when I leave it to thaw slowly (because if I have to thaw it, I sometimes get impatient and bang it to break the ice, which isn't good for the waterer!)

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Thanks for your input! That's a great idea.
I think a feeder and waterer are at the top of my list.....but which one to get today? My chickens spend a lot of time in the coop in winter.....

You can buy mini stock tank heaters that are often labeled for buckets and put in your nipple waterers that freeze. I use them in my 2 gallon buckets for my ducks waterers no problem and it would be cheaper than buying a heated poultry nipple waterer. For a feeder I would pick up a 5 gallon bucket and some PVC 3" Hub Elbows (45 degrees) or plain old PVC couplings to make a DIY feeder. If you Google "5 gallon bucket chicken feeder" there are tons of tutorials and pictures on the subject. You can also buy nipple attachments and make a waterer out of 5 gallon buckets.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thx guys.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, I have nipple waterers but they freeze in the winter.

Get a heater for the waterer?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Maybe. Kind of pricey, and I don't want electrical cords everywhere.

 

[Brooks_]

If you happen to come across an easy (top) fill hanging waterer, let me know all about it.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

*IF* I lived in an area with long freezes, *AND* I already had a water supply for the birds, some way to heat it so I didn't have to go out in the cold and deal with frozen and heavy would be top of my list.

Yeah, the whole electric cord thing sucks - but going off the grid with a solar cell, a small battery, and an immersion pump to keep the water moving (plus a large enough tank that there is no reasonable danger of it freezing thru) is no cheaper.

 

[3KillerBs]

Maybe. Kind of pricey, and I don't want electrical cords everywhere.

I see that you're in Maine.

You have a LOT of winter ahead of you and a lot of hauling of extra waterers and changing out of frozen ones.

 

[WIchickMama]

heated dog bowl---will work as a waterer and cheaper (maybe?)

chicks--I vote for chicks! haha (likely your store doesn't have them due to weather but that would be my downfall--chicks)