How do I prevent contaminated water in the Summer and frozen water in Winter?

[AnimalGeek23]

Hi! I’m new to BYC. I was wondering how to prevent contaminated water in the summer, because I’m afraid that bugs would fly in by accident. Also, during the winter should I install a small heater for their water. As you can see, I’m really worried about caring for them(planning to get one soon, doing research). And how do you prevent snow from getting onto the food, do you cover the coop with a piece of cloth? Because my friend recommends that.

 

[AlleysChicks]

I have a covered run and it helps keep the food dry. I use rubber pans in the winter for water (my birds love to eat snow when there’s some). Plastic cracks and metal waterers freeze up. I don’t have electric anywhere near my birds. I’ve never had bugs fly in the water in the summer but there are enclosed waterers you can buy.

 

[CannedMonster]

Even if there was a bug in my birds water they’d drink it anyway.
They’re livestock, not human children.
They’re tougher than you think.
My birds will sometimes walk by the clean waterer and drink from a puddle lol.
Our feeder is located under the raised coop so it doesn’t get wet.
In winter many people get a heated dog bowl for the water.
We would just carry the water inside the house for the night so it didn’t freeze and put it back when we let them out in the morning.
The birds don’t eat or drink while roosting so they don’t need access to it overnight anyway.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Bugs aren't an issue, it's yucky to humans but won't bother the chickens.

As far as heating water it depends on what your temperatures are like, what the set up is like, etc. I get down to maybe 20 F at lowest so I just use an aquarium heater dropped into my waterer, which has a slot in the top for the cord to come out.

How is your coop set up that snow could get in the food? If snow can get in then so can rain, and that might be a bigger concern if it causes mold to form.

 

[llombardo]

They have heated waterers. I just got a 2.5 gallon heated bucket with nipples. I also got a 5 gallon heated bucket for the ducks. I'm just trying to be prepared for next winter, even though it seems we are still in winter..snow on Sunday? How is this even happening?

 

[Sara Ranch]

I feed the birds fermented feed/wet feed. I know they get water that way. During the winter, I use rubber bowls for feed. Plastic waterer. Temps here, without wind chill, drop below zero. Yes, sometimes the water freezes. In extreme cold temps, the water is in the coop for the day. Never had a water break/crack due to cold weather. There's no electricity anywhere near the coops or barns.

The birds will eat snow.

As for summer, no worries. Birds eat bugs. Bugs in water = juicier bug.

 

[Folly's place]

I rinse and refill their waterers as needed, and don't worry about them otherwise. In winter, the metal waterers are on heated bases, which work very well. I'd hate to have a coop without electricity!
Mary

 

[SavKel&RynKel]

Just seconding the comment by chooksnquilts, we have two waterers for our chickens that we clean and fill often, but their favorite thing to drink is the puddles that form in random places in the yard...