Setting up multiple chickens runs for winter

[cd3farm]

We are in process of setting up multiple (22) chicken runs for winter and want to be using the automatic nipples to decrease chores. We would love any advise on how to set this up for winter freezing. There are way to many of my little (big) darlings (English Orpingtons) to all be in one run and we would like to somehow circulate heated water so they don't freeze. I would like to know how those who have many runs work with this problem.

 

[GitaBooks]

I don't have a lot of runs during the winter, my chickens don't even go outside in the snow. They stay in the barn (which is really big) and keep warm and dry. They don't even like to touch the snow.

They will fly just to stay away from it, and when they land on it they just sit there and stare at me, unsure of what to do. I have to break the ice two to three times out of their waterers and I have a couple heat-lamps that I use, since it drops below zero pretty regularly.


Best of luck!

 

[cd3farm]

lol My experience has always been just the opposite. Years ago when I first started raising chickens for some reason they decided they didn't want to go into the chicken house and roosted up in a tree out side of it. We had freezing rain coming and I was frantic. Tried and tried to get them to got in but no. My husband finally made me go in the house. I was so sad. They had icicles hanging from their feathers and I just knew they would all be lying dead on the ground in the morning.
Next morning they were all running around like usual and they did that all winter. It was amazing. Chickens are a lot hardier than we give them credit for. I still have a few of my free rangers that prefer the trees to their house.

 

[GitaBooks]

That's cool! I agree, chickens are hardy. I have a sebright that withstands below zero temperatures, even though they are suppose to be weak.