It's cold out, and I need to adjust to bird #s & problems

What makes filling the water so time consuming? Maybe we can help you think of a way to make it easier.

I fill plastic milk jugs with hot tap water and take one or two with me when I go out. This has an added bonus of warming my hands.

If they're running completely out of water, then you need to provide more containers, or a larger one. Even if it does freeze eventually, it will be liquid and drinkable for a while until that happens, especially if you start with warm water.

-Wendy

 

It really looks like to me that you already have the answers. You've just said so.

Get up ten minutes early to make sure they have water. (Ten minutes should do it and it really won't hurt you )

Make sure you check on them as soon as you get home. Force yourself to go out and take water with you.

Remember, these guys are your responsibility. Enlist other members of your household--not to help you take care of them--but to help YOU remember to!! Set alarm clocks or alarms on your cell phone if you have to!

Animal husbandry always seems fun and easy when you're just getting started, then the new wears off and the weather changes. That's when it becomes work.

If you don't water them properly, they will die. You have three options:

1. Water them properly--at the expense of your sleep, spare time, and comfort.
2. Get rid of your stock so you don't have to be bothered.
3. Let them die a slow and painful death. (Not nice)

I don't mean to be harsh, but you're not dealing with anything that the rest of us don't. You CAN DO IT!!!

 

I also saw on here where someone takes those old used ice cream pails, and sets those in the dog waterer and just changes those out.

I really think they need water at the minimum every morning. If not, you could lose birds and they will definitely not be able to lay eggs if conserving water for normal body function.

It may not be fun, and is not convenient, and i may be sounding old and like I'm harping, but if fresh water is that big of deal really a very big deal, maybe keeping livestock is not for you. Good luck.

 

Quote:I second this...I go out in -29* temps to tend to my chickens...cattle, horses and rabbits. It is NO fun...5 layers of clothes, in biting wind and sub zero temps. It is all part of raising animals. They cannot tend themselves...it all comes with responsibility. Its hard work when it is not perfect weather outside is it? I bottle fed 9 calves in a blizzard, because they NEEDED me...sort of how children need their parents to take care of them. Something not to dive into too lightly!

You can do it...just remember why you got them in the first place...they need you. Carry a couple of those warm water jugs with you each time you go, winter is half over...be strong!
**if you have a cell phone, set an alarm...get up a few minutes early (go bed a few minutes early...in the winter it won't kill you) or put a sticky note on your fridge...WATER CHICKENS...you don't forget the most important things do you, like friends phone numbers or a date? Make this a priority.

 

It sounds to me like you want to want to bring water out more frequently, but you find it hard to do so. (yes, I did mean to say want to want to). If that's true, just for one day bring them some fresh water in the morning. As has been said, use a milk jug. Bring the jug back inside. At the end of the day, fill up your milk jug and leave it inside. Repeat. It's sometimes easier to look at things like this as a once per day activity, instead of an all-winter long activity. At least, that's what works for me. Good luck!

 

Quote:The secret to getting up earlier is to go to bed earlier. It takes time to change habits, but it can be done.

You have taken on a responsibility in owning animals. If you can't handle that responsibility, get rid of them and try again when you mature some.