How do you keep your water from freezing?

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The ideas I see on here that I can afford are only good for those decent above 0 or slightly below temps. I have two coops and attached pens and can't afford 50 dollar waterer for both. For the most part, having the coops with deep litter, straw, and all those pesky gaps and cracks around the doors and windows sealed, I just worry about the nights when it's 20 to 30 below and the birds combs and wattles are at higher risk for frostbite because they get dunked in the water bowl. I lost my gorgeous cream legbar roo to frostbite last year. I want to ditch the bowls, but can't afford anything better, and I'm at work too long to keep running warm water out for something that isn't heated. I'm learning quickly to pick better breeds.
 
cheekiechickie said:
The ideas I see on here that I can afford are only good for those decent above 0 or slightly below temps. I have two coops and attached pens and can't afford 50 dollar waterer for both. For the most part, having the coops with deep litter, straw, and all those pesky gaps and cracks around the doors and windows sealed, I just worry about the nights when it's 20 to 30 below and the birds combs and wattles are at higher risk for frostbite because they get dunked in the water bowl. I lost my gorgeous cream legbar roo to frostbite last year. I want to ditch the bowls, but can't afford anything better, and I'm at work too long to keep running warm water out for something that isn't heated. I'm learning quickly to pick better breeds.
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You can get a bucket and buy the nipples and make your own nippler for cheap. I bought the heated nippler--now I just have to teach them how to use it.
 
Cryss said:
Buy 2 of these, cheap, keep one inside the house. Swap them out when one gets frozen so one is alwsys indoors thawing. I did that my first winter. This winter I'm splurging on a heated waterer.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-poultry-drinker-5-qt
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Oops! Just noticed you said you had 2 coops. Naturally that neans you need 4 of these. They are inexpensive, but for a good diy chrck this.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-poultry-drinker-5-qt
Use this design and get creative. Do you have a large black rubber bowl? An old dishpan? Add a bucket, pail, oversized ice cream pail? Just remember the top needs to be sealed to cause a vacuum. How about a soda bottle or a one gallon water bottle with a single hole cut into the bottom on one side and set that inside the bowl or dishpan? Temporary solutions perhaps but they work.
 
I know this is completely out of the norm and I don't think it will really help in cold weather.
I have well water with some iron in it. any of the drip type waters will clog. I also have close to 200 fowl. So I had to come up with some way to automate my water.You can see my basic design. Its against the wall so they can't stand on it and poop in there water. I can flush it with a drain I have on the end. It and two others just like it are connected to a hose bib/spicket and I let it run just a little dribble 24 hours a day.This keeps fresh water in all the pipes and washes out junk. The reason I used the 4 inc pipe is, if power goes off,or pump goes on the blink, they have several gallons of water in the pipes.
I have the same set up in my baby coop I made the slits in the pipe longer and bent hardware cloth in the slit so if they get in it they can just hop out.
The water in the pipe stays very clean. I spent about a 150 bucks on all 3 waters.The parts to make the drain cost the most!
The reason I posted this is flowing water won't freeze as fast. And you could turn it on full blast for a minute and blow out any ice. I do not think this would work in the far frozen north. but I believe this would work for many! Plus Its cheap! (for cold weather you could insulate the pipes)

42044427_454701341706952_4012434902636036096_n.jpg
 
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GC-Raptor said:
This is my setup.View attachment 1206003. I took an old 5 quart dutch oven and installed a bottle lamp kit with a 43 watt halogen bulb.View attachment 1206004.plugged into a Thermo-cube.View attachment 1206005.
It kept my 2 gallon fount unfrozen down to -13F two nights last winter. I also have higher wattage bulbs if needed. The bulbs lasted about 40 days during the coldest part of winter.View attachment 1206013. GC
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How do you keep your chickens from pecking the cord?
 

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