Heated chicken waterer and chicken winter tending tips

[chcknlttl]

Hello fellow tenders,

Does anyone have a favorite tried and true heated chicken waterer?

And do you have any chicken tending tips for winter that a newb should absolutely know? I'm clueless!!

Thanks a bunch!

 

[WIchickMama]

lots and lots of past threads on this, search for winterizing or heated waterer and you will find TONS of information.

I use a heated dog bowl, haven't started to use it yet but I was out chipping ice this morning so it might be pulled out in the near future.

 

[Sally PB]

I use a heated dog bowl

I use the same. I looked for another one at TSC (where I got mine, last year) and there were none to be had.

You only asked about water, but I'll throw out a couple other things, just in case you didn't know...

Ventilation is important in the winter, perhaps even more so than in the summer. Chickens' breath is steamy in the winter, just like ours. Their poop is moist, and full of ammonia, which will irritate their lungs.

Luckily, ammonia rises, so if the ventilation is up above the birds' heads, the ammonia will be vented out and not accumulate. The moisture will dissipate too, which means less chance of frostbite on combs and wattles.

Some people keep water in the coop in the winter, but I don't. It's another source of moisture, and if it gets spilled, it makes a cold, wet mess.

If you keep your chickens dry, they can keep themselves warm with their down jackets, to surprisingly brutal temperatures. You didn't say where you live, so I don't know how cold you're likely to get. You can add your location to your profile -- the state is fine, or country, if you're outside the US -- and then people can tailor their advice more specifically. What works for me in Michigan might be useless in Florida, for example.

 

[chcknlttl]

lots and lots of past threads on this, search for winterizing or heated waterer and you will find TONS of information.

I use a heated dog bowl, haven't started to use it yet but I was out chipping ice this morning so it might be pulled out in the near future.

thank you! the method I've got going so far is to bring the water in at night and back out in the am since its only super cold in the night/am. I know that will change though

 

[Dreammaker]

I'm thinking about this too. Considering a heated dog bowl, but not thrilled about how quickly I'll need to replace the water. Seems like it wouldn't hold much and get mucked up quickly, but many swear by it. My 5 month old pullets are currently using a Little Giant poultry fount and love drinking from the open water. They've never used nipples. I'm thinking of using an aquarium heater submerged in some sort of waterer. I actually had the idea to stick a couple PVC elbows in a 5 gallon bucket and have them curved up so the water will gravity feed into them and they'll get their preferred open water. I'd stick the aquarium heater into the bucket through a small hole in the lid. No idea if this would even work haha

 

[KyCoop]

I use the change out method. I only have 9 girls so I don't need a stock tanks worth of water so its not too bad. I have 2 1.5 gallon waterers. I take a fresh one out in the morning and take the frozen one in and put in the bath tub to thaw. In the evening I will take another fresh one out so they can have a room temp drink before bed. If its especially cold I change them out more often if necessary.
Now that works for us because it usually will get above freezing during the day but it your in a very cold cold area this will not work for you.

 

[RoosterML]

Hello fellow tenders,

Does anyone have a favorite tried and true heated chicken waterer?

And do you have any chicken tending tips for winter that a newb should absolutely know? I'm clueless!!

Thanks a bunch!

here you go:

 

[tigger19687]

FYI, at Petsmart, if you get the online price. the 967oz heated dog bowl is $16.75.
I use a gallon milk jug filled with very salty water (CLOSED TIGHT) and put in the middle of the bowl.... keeps them from putting too much of their face in it. I only really needed to add water every few days. The jug of water keeps the hens out and also helps keep the water from freezing as fast- as in the bowl won't turn on till it needs to.
Right now I just put the jug inside my BIG 5 gal waterer that is not heated. Will see how it goes till I start to get freezing.


Search... there really are a TON of posts on this. I try not to use those submersible heaters. Use too much $$ electricity and is a fire hazard.

 

[Alaskan]

I use the rubber bowls.

Every morning you kick them free of the ground (because they have frozen in place), jump on the upside-down pan to pop out the ice cube.

Toss the ice cube to a location where it can sit happily for 6 months without causing issues.

Put rubber pan upright and fill with fresh water.

If it is frozen solid by noon, we refill.

If it is frozen solid in less than an hour we use a birdbath de-icer, or small stock tank de-icer that is safe if touched, safe to run dry, and keeps water thawed but not warm.

I know lots of people like the heated dog bowls.. but just a tiny bit of moisture underneath them, and they too get frozen to the ground, and when you try to kick them free they break.