Good ways to keep water from freezing without electricity

[ChickyNicky05]

Looking for suggestions- I am still pretty new with animals and winter. I want something cost effective to keep my energy bill down. We are away from the house for at least 8 hours a day and can’t be changing water out as it freezes. I would rather not use the heated dog bowl as I’ve read the girls could get wet and become frost bit. We can’t use the bucket with nipples because the girls, bless their souls, cannot figure it out! We currently have a plastic one that you flip upside down to take the base off and then fill the reservoir with water, put the base back on, then flip right side up (soooo annoying! But whatever..). I like the idea of the submersible de icers however it seems like they can only be used with the 5 gallon bucket/nipple method. Can anyone confirm that for me? I’ve seen heated waterers that look like mine, but I feel like they probably use more electricity than the submersible ones. Thoughts? Ideas? I saw an ingenious creation using a light bulb and ceramic dish, however I’m not sure I have the time right now to try and make one..

 

[R2elk]

Looking for suggestions- I am still pretty new with animals and winter. I want something cost effective to keep my energy bill down. We are away from the house for at least 8 hours a day and can’t be changing water out as it freezes. I would rather not use the heated dog bowl as I’ve read the girls could get wet and become frost bit. We can’t use the bucket with nipples because the girls, bless their souls, cannot figure it out! We currently have a plastic one that you flip upside down to take the base off and then fill the reservoir with water, put the base back on, then flip right side up (soooo annoying! But whatever..). I like the idea of the submersible de icers however it seems like they can only be used with the 5 gallon bucket/nipple method. Can anyone confirm that for me? I’ve seen heated waterers that look like mine, but I feel like they probably use more electricity than the submersible ones. Thoughts? Ideas? I saw an ingenious creation using a light bulb and ceramic dish, however I’m not sure I have the time right now to try and make one..

No electricity, if it freezes, only a small layer occurs which when any ice is removed first thing in the morning remains open for the rest of the day. Depending on your winter temperatures there may not be any freezing at all if your temperatures do not get below 0°F. I get thin layers of ice below 0°F with up to 1/2" of ice at -30°F. Even at -30°F the water stays open for the day when the ice is removed first thing in the morning.

Alternate method to prevent freezing water.

 

[Cryss]

I bought this one because of the same reason. We'll see this winter how it works. They cant soil the water because they can't roost on the dome.
https://www.chewy.com/kh-pet-produc...VNjRpri_ZphAiQNz2zlka-mTm1cnh_aYaAuFcEALw_wcB

 

[FlyWheel]

My method.

This method consists of fresh manure as the heat source and does not require any electricity.

$#!tty method.

Seriously though, how do you keep the chickens from accidentally falling in and potentially drowning?

 

[R2elk]

$#!tty method.

Seriously though, how do you keep the chickens from accidentally falling in and potentially drowning?

Not a problem, they are adult chickens. They recognize that it is a water "hole" and will even stand on the edge of the bucket when getting a drink. Chicks could be in danger of falling in but even they do not drown. They can die from hypothermia or shock. Chickens are prey animals and prey animals can die very quickly from shock.

 

[veryblueflame]

I know it’s a little early for winter but we all want summer forever, but I was wondering how to keep the water from freezing. I’m a first time chicken keeper so any thing more about winter you can tell me thanks!

We have 12 duckies and 14 chickies. We use a large rubber bucket for the coop water. We attached a hook to the inside of the coop. The bucket is sitting on the ground with the handle secured by this hook so they can't knock it over. About a foot above the bucket we placed a heat lamp. We are in northeastern Vermont so our winters are very harsh with temps that can get into the -40's. The heat lamp works really well to keep the water from freezing. The water is checked twice a day and fresh put in once a day, via cleaned out gallon milk jugs filled with water from the house. We have a well so it's the same as the outside water. Duckies need enough water to dunk their faces to clean our their eyes and the all of our sweet birdies will drink from the bucket as well.

We also have a second heat lamp, not too low, on the opposite side of the pen to keep our chickies and duckies from freezing when it gets super cold.

Good luck with your chickies!

 

[CLSranch]

I have had success with heat lamps directly over the plastic waterers. Not close enough to melt anything. Still needs electricity. I have recently bought a solar panel and will use an old truck battery to a heated base and metal waterer. With the distance of running a cord it's doesn't cost any more and I can take the panel camping or jump a tractor out anywhere.

 

[birdy old man]

Has anyone tried a solar water dish? I have not, and am wondering if they are a good option

 

[ChickyNicky05]

I am going to try a cookie tin that I have on hand with a regular light bulb inside. In hopes to save money I'm going to set it up to a timer plug that we already have, and set it to turn on around 5am. If it doesn't work out, we will buy the temp controlled plug, but I think it will be fine. This seems to be the simplest method that I've found. Hope it works!

 

[333113]

I've been using a plastic box waterer/feeder that attaches to the inside of the cage, but sometimes the tabs break off because some peeps just have to stand on it. It's sort of trapezoidal, and when I turn it over the ice mostly just slides out. I usually get them at the shows, but here is a link in case you want to see one:
https://www.pinnonhatch.com/1.5-Quart-Hanging-Cage-Cup.php

I also use the rubber waterers mentioned above, and those work great, too.

For those marginal freezing days, I put fresh straw in whatever bowl/box waterer they are using. The straw seems to keep the water from freezing so fast and lets the birds break up the ice easier while they are waiting for me to get my boots on.

I also find that if you are using overhead waterers, the drip kind, if you fill them only half way they (mostly) won't break when it freezes. I gather up a bucketful at a time, take them to the house, fill the bucket with hot water, then have a cup of something hot while the waterers thaw. I half-refill them with warm (not too hot!) water and rehang them. I like this because I don't have to open the cage when my fingers are cold.

I do keep some of the 99-cent dog waterers that Walmart carries, and those are relatively easy to dump the ice out of. (Here's the link: https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-Pack-World-Pet-Heavyweight-Large-Crock-Bowl-Blue/469419374) However, mice can hang out underneath the winged edges if you don't move the waterer frequently. Any bowl that has flanges on the sides for stability will have that problem. The chickens won't tip it, it won't freeze as fast because of the air layer under the flange, but the mice can move in.

I do have some of the plastic crocks that attach to the side of the cage with a wing-nut, and twist out of the holder, but I don't find those to be easy to thaw.

I also have some real crocks left over from my Dad's rabbit-raising days. I put those in a bucket of hot water, and dump them when the ice releases from the edges. They are heavy and hard to handle when they are cold, but once you warm them up and fill them with hot water, they keep the water warmer longer, and there is no place for mice to hide under them.

Hope this helps!