New coop setup

[Leigti]

That's a good idea, you may also try a bigger water container. The more water there is the longer it will take to freeze. Also the big black rubber bowls work well, they soak up the heat from the sun and help keep the water from freezing.

 

[EasterEggDrew]

Well, it was 12dF last night, 9dF tonight. I think the high temperature yesterday and today were both in the low 20dF's. Since I wasn't at work, for a change, I had a chance to check on the water in the afternoon. It was just getting the slightest skim of ice on part of it, but there was still liquid accessible, and a simple peck of the beak would've broken through the little ice there was. We get occasional stints of negative temperatures, and single-digit days, but that's pretty rare. This 10dF by night and 20dF by day is normal for our coldest winter days, so I think I'm in okay shape with the clear plastic wind screen.

Is it harmful to the chickens if the water occasionally freezes up before the end of the day? If they have access to liquid water for the first several hours of the day, is that enough to keep them sufficiently hydrated on those few coldest days of the year? I think most days, it stays liquid right up to dusk, when they head in to roost.

 

[aart]

They should have liquid water the whole time they are awake.
Even a couple hours of no water can put them off laying and risks dehydration.
Water is just as important when its really cold as it is when it's really hot.

 

[EasterEggDrew]

They should have liquid water the whole time they are awake.
Even a couple hours of no water can put them off laying and risks dehydration.
Water is just as important when its really cold as it is when it's really hot.

Hmm... then I need a plan. The tire with rubber bowl thing doesn't work well for me, since it takes up a lot of sq.ft., and my run is less than 6' x 8'. Also, I have trouble believing that will do any better than my windshield / solar rig on windy days at 10dF.

I might have to resort to getting electric out there, unless someone can point me at other solutions that don't eat up a bunch of space. There is a barn less than 100 ft. away, so an extension cord on very cold days could be made to work, until the weather turns warm enough to run permanent electric.

 

[aart]

Yah, I don't think anything but a heater is gonna keep water liquid at 10F.
Reminder of: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1131569/new-coop-setup#post_17502396

 

[EasterEggDrew]

Yep. Actually, I'll try putting water in the coop tomorrow. I've been avoiding it, since they have tipped a waterer twice in 20 weeks, and I didn't want a wet coop. But I'm convinced the coop stays warm all day, due to it's full-sun exposure in winter, and the dark paint color. Roof is also dark, but 100% covered in snow right now.

11 degrees F again tonight, but getting warmer later this week.

 

[aart]

Yep. Actually, I'll try putting water in the coop tomorrow. I've been avoiding it, since they have tipped a waterer twice in 20 weeks, and I didn't want a wet coop. But I'm convinced the coop stays warm all day, due to it's full-sun exposure in winter, and the dark paint color. Roof is also dark, but 100% covered in snow right now.

11 degrees F again tonight, but getting warmer later this week.

That's why I use the nipples in a closed jug that can't be tipped over.
If you have adequate ventilation in coop, temp is usually same inside as outside with some lag.
Without a heated waterer you'll have to check the water status multiple times per day.
Before I heated the waterer I had two waterers that I swapped out as often as needed,
but I'm home 90% of the time so it wasn't a big deal really.
Much prefer the once a day water top off, tho gathering eggs before they freeze still takes many trips to coop.

 

[EasterEggDrew]

We're away from home 7am - 6pm, so there's 11 hours when no one is there to check water or eggs. It is what it is, but I anticipate some frozen eggs. Is this an issue?

I have some microwaveable seat cushions, used for sitting on stadium bleachers in cold weather. I wonder if they could be used to keep nests warm, or water from freezing.

Inside my coop is quite a bit warmer right along the wall facing the sun, even with the ventilation. This was by design, and why I chose that location for the coop (shaded in summer, full sun in winter). I am confident water will stay liquid in there on sunny days, but it's no help on cloudy days.