OK its finally happened...yep frozen water dish

[Dar]

OK i have a plastic 5 gal water dish i just brought it in the house and thawed it out and am about to bring water back out to the girls..

should i only fill it 1/2 full to make it easier to carry? or will that make it freeze faster?

i have a red 200W heat lamp out there should I point the lamp more over the waterer? would that stop the freezing?

 

[tackyrama]

check out this thread. It's a fantastic freeze proof water system on BYC
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=106303

 

[Dar]

ok where is the chemistry people when you need them...

we need ti invent a chicken safe product that we can add to the water to stop it from freezing

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Only way to do that is to add a bunch of some solute. Even sugar would help to some extent. Problem is, nothing like that is going to give you substantial freeze protection AND be chickensafe.

A galvanized waterer will freeze up somewhat faster if it is half full.

Pointing a heat lamp at the waterer isn't gonna hurt, and depending on how far away etc it might be enough, but really you are going to need to figure out a better long-term solution (running a 200w heat lamp is an INCREDIBLY inefficient and fire-hazard-y way to just keep yer waterer flowing). Consider buying or making a heated base. It's gonna get a LOT colder out there than it is now

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Dar]

i have a somewhat plan...

or maybe i should call it an idea...

i keep the chickens water up on concrete blocks to keep the bedding and dirt out...if i can find someway to slighly heat the blocks i would need a lot less then a 200w bulb and i think it would be more efficient cause then the blocks may act as a radiating heater to keep the chill off...

as it sits i have moved the water right under the heat lamp and have only filled it 1/2 full...it is a 5 gal plastic waterer...so at least this way if i have to thaw it 2X a day it will be easier fr me to carry

 

[eggzettera]

I just use one of these http://www.amazon.com/K-H-Bird-Bath...2FJ8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1227050934&sr=8-2 you can used ones for $27.00

 

[hinkjc]

All of our water heaters are on tonight. 13 to be exact for indoor coops and then our outdoor heated dog dishes were set up for the flight aviaries (turkeys, pheasants, etc). DH has been busy making them and getting them ready for a week like this one. Brrrrr

Jody

 

[sunnydee]

If your water is freezing..isnt it too cold in their coop for the chickens? Just curious...this is my first winter dealing with chickens.

 

[hinkjc]

Chickens have feathers to insulate their bodies from the cold. If they aren't winter hardy, they wouldn't survive here. We don't provide any heat for fully grown chickens that can regulate their own body temps.

Jody

 

[sunnydee]

Okay, that makes me feel a little better. I have an insulated coop and water has not frozen yet, but I am sure it will with winter right around the corner!