Question about hot/cold water for the chickens

[Annalyse]

Does it matter if the water is hot/cold in the winter? In the morning I have a small nipple handing water that I replace with hot water every day. They also have a I dont know probably like gallon waterer. Well sometimes it freezes so I bring it inside and replace it with hot water but sometimes it doesnt. So is it alright to leave them cold water? Its winter. They get warm mash and have warm water so is the cold waterer going to be fine?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Does it matter if the water is hot/cold in the winter? In the morning I have a small nipple handing water that I replace with hot water every day. They also have a I dont know probably like gallon waterer. Well sometimes it freezes so I bring it inside and replace it with hot water but sometimes it doesnt. So is it alright to leave them cold water? Its winter. They get warm mash and have warm water so is the cold waterer going to be fine?

We give ours hot water during winter. It keeps their body warm, & the water doesn't freeze right away.

 

[NatJ]

Cold water is fine.
Warm water is fine.
I would be a little careful with hot water, because you don't want to burn their mouths. My own guideline is that I have to be able to hold my finger in the water without feeling burned, so probably cooler than a cup of coffee.

 

[Annalyse]

Cold water is fine.
Warm water is fine.
I would be a little careful with hot water, because you don't want to burn their mouths. My own guideline is that I have to be able to hold my finger in the water without feeling burned, so probably cooler than a cup of coffee.

oh yes by hot I mean warm. haha, the thing is I don't mind the burning part so I can't really tell at this point I'm used to it.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Sometimes I offer warm water in the winter, but usually cold water.

 

[spartacus_63]

An interesting physics phenomenon, hot water may actually freezes faster than cold water...go figure. It's called the Mpemba effect.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My heated base keeps water 35 F to 40 F/1.5 C to 4.5 C.

My outside waterers are heated by a 39 watt halogen bulb and water temps vary with outside temps. Bulbs are lit when temps are below freezing during daylight and darkness.

GC

 

[Annalyse]

My heated base keeps water 35 F to 40 F/1.5 C to 4.5 C.View attachment 2517114
My outside waterers are heated by a 39 watt halogen bulb and water temps vary with outside temps. Bulbs are lit when temps are below freezing during daylight and darkness. View attachment 2517120
GC

I've thought about buying the heated water at TSC but I was too worried about fire hazards. I can take my time to get them warm water instead of me worrying all day whether or not theres a fire.

 

[linguini]

I have a 5 gallan waterer with nipples and a deicer base which keeps the water from frozen. It works quite well even for single digit days.
I was also surprised to find that our chooks actually love eating the snow - well, they have plenty now that we have more than 2 ft of snow on the ground that won't go anywhere for a long time!

 

[Annalyse]

I have a 5 gallan waterer with nipples and a deicer base which keeps the water from frozen. It works quite well even for single digit days.
I was also surprised to find that our chooks actually love eating the snow - well, they have plenty now that we have more than 2 ft of snow on the ground that won't go anywhere for a long time!

Oh my Rooster LOVES eating snow. The snow we have in NJ right now is probably up to your neck