Preventing chicken water from freezing in the winter?

[77horses]

Hi! Living way up here, it always gets really cold in the winter. In fact, yesterday the chicken's waterer officially froze over completely, which is a problem because, obviously, they need to get to their water and if it's frozen, they can't.

What can I do to prevent the water from freezing, besides buying an expensive heated waterer that I've seen some people have?

Thanks!

 

[jojo54]

My DH built a square metal box out of some ols sheet metal hanging around and put a couple of light bulbs in it. Our large metal waterer sits on it and says thawed. It is the same idea as cookie tin heaters except he had this stronger metal around. If you have a smaller waterer, the cookie tin works great. Cut a hole in the side and put in a light bulb. Quick, fairly easy and best of all - IT WORKS!!!

Edited to add - ITS CHEAP!

 

[dsqard]

Love your avatar pic!

It has been getting really cold here too in Utah. The chicken water has been freezing solid at night now for about a week. I do not have electricity to my coop so no water heater. I have two double walled metal waterers. I just rotate them. I fill one up in the morning with warm water in the house and put it in the coop and remove the frozen one. So far the water has not frozen during the day so they have water all day long. I think they like drinking the warm water in the morning to help warm up too.

 

[77horses]

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Thanks! That sounds like a great idea! I don't know if it would work with a plastic waterer, though.

 

[77horses]

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That sounds like a good idea, also!

And my avatar? Haha thanks!