Reminder to check those water dishes!!!

[trilyn]

Quote:
I use the nipples too, right now I've got a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket hung with a bucket hook commonly used for horse water buckets. It holds the bucket flat against the wall, and I am also using a deicer that I picked up at TSC for 34.00 inc tax. I don't have electric out in the coop yet, so I'm using an outdoor electrical cord for the deicer. I've got 3 nipples on the bottom of the bucket, the deicer in the bucket and plugged in-works like a charm.

I have the lid on the bucket wedged on part way. This keeps the chickens and the dust out and also doesn't create a vacuum, which would prohibit the water from coming out of the nipples. With 4 horses, anything to make the coop chores easier is an absolute must! Good luck!

 

[chookchick]

The problem with lack of water--you won't get as many EGGS!!
That is the first thing to go when they run out of water--so keep those eggs coming!

 

[felidaet]

We are also having colder than normal weather right now. The low this morning was 17 and the high was around 30. The water was frozen this morning and so I had to give them fresh warm water. Inside the coop was likely above freezing during the day today because it was sunny. When I got home from work there was a thin layer of ice forming again. I setup a heat lamp right above the water this evening. I checked it about an hour latter. The ice was melted and the water was warming a little. Our temperature is already down to 18.9 right now (08:30pm). I will check on it again before bed.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Quote:
I'm not Patman, but I'll tell you where I bought our waterer

Meyer Hatchery in Ohio is having a sale on their heated waterers. I think it is around $36. I picked up from the place, but they ship. I know they are closing close to Christmas and won't reopen till the first of the year, so you may want to order soon if that's what you're thinking to do. It is a plastic 3 gallon waterer. You just use a heavy duty extension cord to plug into the unit. Three days later w/20* weather, so far, so good

 

[faykokoWV]

I got my heated waterer on Amazon. they also have an outlet that turns on only when the temperature is below freezing which would be good for those that want to put a heat bulb in the coop.

 

[sparkles2307]

We have a heated bucket, its too cold for the heated fount waterers here, and have a 90 watt light bulb hanging about 18 inches above the bucket to help the heater keep up. Its -11 this morning with a -23 wind chill. I hate MN.

 

[rcentner]

Quote:
I wanna know too, cause I do the same thing for now, but the water will freeze while we are at work tomorrow. I am gonna try to rig somethin up for the day tomorrow (at freakin 6am) or get out early from work if I can.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
I wanna know too, cause I do the same thing for now, but the water will freeze while we are at work tomorrow. I am gonna try to rig somethin up for the day tomorrow (at freakin 6am) or get out early from work if I can.

Well mine haven't had access 24/7 for the last few days, my heated waterer froze up

I think a fuse blew or something, so for now they're getting water in a rubber dish in the morning, and in the afternoon - and they ahve access to the horse's water during the day as well - there is a de-icer in the water tank and I just added another heated bucket in the horse barn.

Did I say I hate this cold? I DO!

 

[Tala]

Quote:
But your chickens have probably been up since 6 or 7 without water.

I got a heated dog bowl for $20 at TSC and I think it's WELL worth the investment to be able to sleep in on those cold mornings! It has a thermostat so it only comes on when it's cold. I use a dusk to dawn timer/control on any heat lamps so that they only come on at night. That way it's no biggie if I overlseep or work late.

 

[Galaxiedriver]

It's nearly 10 pm here and 9 degrees F outside with gusty wind. I just got in from checking on the chickens and adjusting the 250 W heat lamp so it is providing a little more heat to the waterer. it is securely fastened to the ceiling and hanging about 2 1/2 feet above the waterer. The coop ceiling is insulated but the walls are not. I have one window and the wall vent cracked a bit for ventilation. It is 25 degrees in the coop and the water is not frozen. I will be up at 0630 to do "chores" before heading for work and I fully expect to still find a 25 degree coop and liquid water. This is our first winter with the birds so I keep a close watch on them. Tonight is our coldest night so far.

I make sure our birds have food and water 24/7. We got our first egg at 21 weeks to the day and now at, I think 25 weeks, we are getting 13 to 16 a day from our 20 pullets. From what I see on BYC we are doing pretty good for our first year.