South Dakota Thread!

[Mrs. K]

I live in SW part of SD. I use black rubber bowls in the winter. I use two. Fill one, it freezes solid, next day, turn it upside down in the sun, and the black will absorb enough heat that the block will fall out.

Fill the second bowl, and repeat. Their water needs are much less that in the heat of summer. As long as you get them water every day, they do fine.

For new people, it is so counterintuitive but the best thing for chickens is a lot of ventilation and dryness. Not added warmth. If they are out of the wind and dry, they are warm even at -35 . Hard to believe but true.

If one closes up the coop to save heat you get damp chickens from condensation and that and poor air quality is hard on chickens.

Mrs k

 

[Sinadrea]

https://www.statelinetack.com/produ...0ETNFtjtWBC3c5cyLSgVgBrId39Mwy1gaAljDEALw_wcB

https://www.walmart.com/ip/6-Qt-Round-Heated-Pet-Bowl-Blue/422131881?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101644413&selectedOfferId=55022E1C382433269F1104E76BD47CFA&conditionGroupCode=1&sourceid=dsn_ad_fac153e8-a819-4e04-9af5-1c5d04a29929&veh=dsn&wmlspartner=dsn_ad_fac153e8-a819-4e04-9af5-1c5d04a29929&cn=FY26-MP-PMax_cnv_dps_dsn_dis_ad_mp_s_n&gclsrc=aw.ds&wl9=pla&wl11=online&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22532405497&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgvnCBhCqARIsADBLZoL00hpYm_wHVAK_O9PHIM8UETZzB3PlVQB2ozqh3iabQN_-CpJ5sE8aAuXvEALw_wcB

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chicken-...XWddPiyZD24JOMVs7Rjd_b-jrwg2cMoMaAv0nEALw_wcB

I have the 1st two and we may get a fish pond heater for our bigger waterer this year. The chickens prefer the 2nd one on the list so far but it can cause frostbite when it's too cold so it may be best to put chicken wire or something on it to block them from dunking their wattles too low.

 

[Sinadrea]

https://www.statelinetack.com/produ...0ETNFtjtWBC3c5cyLSgVgBrId39Mwy1gaAljDEALw_wcB

https://www.walmart.com/ip/6-Qt-Round-Heated-Pet-Bowl-Blue/422131881?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101644413&selectedOfferId=55022E1C382433269F1104E76BD47CFA&conditionGroupCode=1&sourceid=dsn_ad_fac153e8-a819-4e04-9af5-1c5d04a29929&veh=dsn&wmlspartner=dsn_ad_fac153e8-a819-4e04-9af5-1c5d04a29929&cn=FY26-MP-PMax_cnv_dps_dsn_dis_ad_mp_s_n&gclsrc=aw.ds&wl9=pla&wl11=online&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22532405497&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgvnCBhCqARIsADBLZoL00hpYm_wHVAK_O9PHIM8UETZzB3PlVQB2ozqh3iabQN_-CpJ5sE8aAuXvEALw_wcB

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chicken-...XWddPiyZD24JOMVs7Rjd_b-jrwg2cMoMaAv0nEALw_wcB

I have the 1st two and we may get a fish pond heater for our bigger waterer this year. The chickens prefer the 2nd one on the list so far but it can cause frostbite when it's too cold so it may be best to put chicken wire or something on it to block them from dunking their wattles too low.

2nd one is just a heated pet bowl, I couldn't get the link to work.