Ideas for keeping water thawed, WITHOUT a power source?

[Noymira]

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Thanks for the ideas, and welcome to BYC. I really don't feel comfortable having open flame next to live animals and so much combustible material (we use another shed attached to the coop for storage of our lawn tractor, gas cans and spare lumber). The previous owner had power running out to the structure by draping a line from the house to the structure through the trees, but that was not meant to be a permanent solution and really wasn't a safe idea.

 

[Noymira]

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That is a good idea as well, I may do this on the really cold days and try the insulated covers someone else suggested as well. Between both methods I bet I could keep thawed water for them all the time.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your ideas!

 

[packmomma]

Well depending on how much money you want to spend you can buy a small solar panel that will charge a battery and then you buy an invertor. It hooks to your battery and you could Plug in one of those dog bowls to it. The battery has to be outside your chicken coop because apparently they give off a gas and need to be vented. That is my plan because right now we have a 100 foot extension cord hooked up. Harbor freight has a kit that would probably run a daytime light as well. I'm gonna try it when I get a few more bucks and hopefully go electricity free. I think the kit is like 250 but you have to have a place to mount the solar panels. They do make smaller panels but you still need to buy a battery for either thing.

 

[Noymira]

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I will look into that as well, thank you! It's a bit out of our price range right now, but maybe this fall when we are winterizing the coop that might be an option. We do have another open shed attached we could use to house the other components, so we have the space.

 

[happyhensny]

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I will look into that as well, thank you! It's a bit out of our price range right now, but maybe this fall when we are winterizing the coop that might be an option. We do have another open shed attached we could use to house the other components, so we have the space.

Really, the Duraflex bowls are easiest. Bring out a milk jug of water, bust out the ice pour new in. Cheap, and if you do it morning and afternoon or evening before they go to sleep they get a drink before bed.

 

[Noymira]

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Thanks! I like simple and cheap! I was checking out some of those bowls while I was at the feed store this weekend, that may well be the way we go.

 

[CluckyJay]

Build a rocket stove to keep the coop above freezing?

 

[weeders n feeders]

Try solar. Have you looked into aluminum can heaters you can DYI real cheap? This could help to heat the coup which in turn would help keep the water from freezing. Or try solar water heater. Again I've seen designs that are DYI and not too expensive. On the more costly side you could get a solar panel to supply power to a small water heater. Fish aquarium heaters don't take much power. And lastly did you know you can actually boil water with hot rocks? Not that you want to boil it in this case but if you have a wood stove in the your home you could keep a couple of rock on it and occasionally drop one into the waterer to keep it warm.

 

[Noymira]

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All good suggestions, I'll have to research those DIY projects! We do use a wood stove to heat our house, so the stones would work too! Thanks!

 

[dragonlair]

I, too, use the Fortex livestock bowls. I fill them with warm water in the morning, to which I have added the vitamin and electrolyte powder or molasses. They drink their fill. When it freezes, I tip it over and stomp on the bottom with my heel. The iceberg pops out and I make an icy igloo with them just fo something to do. I live in Maine, so the temps get very low in the winter. The chickens seem to do well with this system.