Middle Georgia Winter Preparation

[ShotgunDog]

Yes, but they were not new and may have been brittle to start with. Either way though, the 20 gallon suits our needs perfectly anyway.

 

[AmyRoach]

This winter will be my first winter with my chickens in their coop/run. We live in middle Georgia, USA, so the winters tend to be mild. I'm not worried about the girls getting cold--the coop is not drafty. However, the outdoor temperatures can, and will, dip below freezing on many nights. I have a 20 gallon plastic barrel with horizontal nipples for their water. Should I be concerned about possible freezing temperatures? Has anybody had any experience (good or bad) with these nipples in below-freezing temperatures? Last winter we had a rare freeze (16 degrees F or so), which wreaked havoc on wells and other plumbing in the area. I don't have power to the coop/run, but I think I may be able to set up some sort of temporary heater arrangement with a battery if the temps dip down like that again this winter. Am I overthinking it? Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I've never had a plastic waterer not crack when it freezes. IF it freezes it might crack. If you get freezing temps I would just move them inside for the season and get a heated bowl for water or a metal waterer so it doesn't get broken.

 

[enrgizerbunny]

In case it wasn't mentioned yet - you need to do nothing to the coop but ensure the roosts are not subject directly to drafts/wind and do not cover your ventilation.You're plenty far south that your lowest temperatures are plenty warm enough for chickens to handle with their own permanent feather jackets.