Temp of water for winter?

[viktoriacl]

I got a simmering pot from someone and plugged it in in the house. The water temp got up to 115F but this was in the house where it was probably 80F that day. Is this too hot for winter watering?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The water temp got up to 115F

That's fine if you want to slow cook them

If you just want to keep the water thawed, it only needs to be about 40 degrees​

 

[viktoriacl]

Too Funny! I wasnt plannig on cooking them......or was I..? No I was just thinking the 115 wouldnt stay 115 when it is 20F outside. Is that not right?

 

[jmagill]

I think you need to do a test run.

Warmer water in the winter will mean that your chickens will drink more - a good thing.
Too hot and they won't drink another problem.

You need to know and not guess, for your chickens safety.

 

[viktoriacl]

Thanks. I would test. I just didnt know if anyone already knew the answer to this question. What do other water heaters people use heat to in the warm temp?

edited to add my sticking "Q" to the begining of uestion.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

No I was just thinking the 115 wouldnt stay 115 when it is 20F outside. Is that not right?

The pot won't stop heating until the temp reaches 115

If it can't raise the temp that high it willl be on 24/7.

That's going to use a lot of electricity​

 

[OregonChickenGal]

Just go down and buy a heated dog dish. You can get them in 1 or 2 gal. size. It won't use near as much electric. Chickens just near their water above freezing.

 

[jmagill]

http://japr.fass.org/cgi/reprint/7/3/258.pdf

"At low air temperatures, chickens have
increased maintenance energy requirements
and decreased growth rate [l, 13, 141. Consumption
of warm water at low air temperatures
may have a favorable effect as, based on
immunological measurements, chickens provided
with warm water in winter appeared to
be less stressed than controls [lq. Moreover,
consumption of cooled water would require
energy to raise the water temperature to body
temperature. This would increase energy requirements
of the buds."

 

[math ace]

Last winter, I found that water I put in their coop did not freeze, but the water in their run did. We are in North florida, so our winters are mild compared to others in the US. I did have heat in the coop and that may be why the water in the coop did not freeze . . . ..

 

[matimeo]

I believe I read somewhere that chickens won't drink water which is warmer than their body temperature (which I believe is about 107 degrees F). Sounds too warm.