Keeping water from freezing in the winter

[Liv's chickens]

hello everyone! I have been raising chickens for almost 5 years now and I’ve always struggled with keeping the flock’s water from constantly freezing. And I have a feeling I’m not the only one who struggles with this! I’ve tried different methods like using a ping pong ball, and putting a bottle of salt water inside the water, but both have failed to work for me. I’ve recently moved from Colorado to Vermont and now the winters are even colder then before. Does anyone have any tips or methods that have worked for them? I’d love to hear! Thanks in advence!

 

[SueT]

These heated dog bowls are $14.95 at our farm store....I've used this one every winter for 3 years, with temps down to single digits...

 

[Shadrach]

There is a very good article here but I can't find the link.
Buy a plastic bucket.
Dig a hole 50% larger than the bucket in both diameter and depth.
Pack 'live' compost in the bottom of the hole.
Place the bucket in the hole making sure the rim of the bucket is proud of ground level.
Pack 'live' compost around the bucket in the hole.
Place a stone or platform in the bucket of sufficient size to prevent a chicken from falling in the bucket.
Fill the bucket with water.

The composting material gives off heat and the heat is enough to prevent the water from freezing.

 

[wamtazlady]

I use a 44 quart tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is okay to use in plastic. Keeps my 12 chickens in water for over a week. Water stays clean and thawed. Last winter it got down to -22. I went out to check on the water. Water was still thawed. I have a heated dog dish for backup just in case my system ever breaks down. My system is going on its 4th year now and has never frozen.

 

[Relleoms]

If you have electricity, this is a great waterer:
https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heated-poultry-waterer

 

[jreardon1918]

5 gallon bucket with horizontal nipples. 250 watt stock tank heater. Works great. Water stays clean and liquid.

 

[Compost King]

Wish I could give you advice but it doesn't get cold enough here for long enough to have this be a problem. yeah my live stock water bowls that I use will freeze up, but I can just break the top layer of ice with a kick most times it freezes, the rare times it gets cold enough to freeze solid I come out with a bucket of hot water and dump it on top of the ice (bowls are usually only half full) and it melts most of the ice and the remaining ice makes the water cold. I really only posted because I am curious how people deal with this in colder climates. I used to live up North before I had chickens, call me a wimp but as soon as I could I moved south to get away from long cold winters.

 

[Shadrach]

I thought about using hot compost or such a thing but wasn't sure of how to describe a way to do it and I have never had to do it and wasn't sure of any method that has proven to work. Winters can be long in Vermont so changing out the compost halfway through winter might be needed too.

Shepherds here in the mountains have been doing this for years. I think they just add sheep droppings and water.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Heated dog bowl work ($20.00 @ TSC). I have a heated chicken waterer ($40.00). If I had to do it over, I would do the heated dog bowl. We don't get cold weather for very long.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you have electricity accessible from the coop/run? A good heated waterer really is the easiest way.