The Frozen Waterer Thread!

[chicken boy sam]

People who live in the North know that every morning in the winter, or year-round, the waterer will be frozen. This is a thread for complaining about it, taking pictures of it, discussing it and how you keep up with it!


Every morning, my Dad goes out with a hot water- waterer and brings back the frozen one. In the middle of the day, I go back and un-freeze my bantam's show cup (The one she can reach) and bring it back with hot water with sugar/molasses dissolved in it. In the afternoon, my dad brings back the un-frozen one, takes back the frozen one, and the cycle goes on...

 

[featherz]

I just use heated dog bowls. they work great - no fuss no muss.

 

[blueseal]

yup i take a 5 gallon pale of cold water down evry morning now. break out the ice and put new water in. also heres a tip you know that hot water freezes faster than cold water.

 

[spartacus_63]

you know that hot water freezes faster than cold water.

I got a water fountain heater and now only have to refill the fountain every three days.​

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
This is only true under very specific conditions and is known as the Mpemba effect

I would doubt that it would make a significant difference in most coops.

 

[jmagill]

Quote:
Simply not true! It may cool a bit faster but because it starts warmer and it takes longer to get to freezing even if the temp drops quicker. Yes. I should add "In most everyday circumstances" The exception is the Mempba effect

Just try it!

 

[FourPawz]

Hey, at least when I take water out to my crew it takes a while to freeze. I have a sister in Vermont and years ago while visiting her I took a pail of water to her flock. It was around 20 below zero and before I could get everyone watered, the pail had ice forming around the edge of the pail. BRRRR!!!

 

[Mr.Bojangles]

My wife has some bird bathe heaters that keep the water from freezing, pug it in and drop into the water bowl and it keeps the water from freezing. Costs $15.00 at wild bird unlimited...

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

For the ducks & geese, I use rubber tubs. They are easy to break and I can refill them twice per day in just a few minutes.

As for the chickens, I use pop bottle waterers. Each pen has two sets. This way, while one set is fill and hooked in, the other is in a bucket in the house thawing out. I switch them out as needed. It also helps keep the bedding dry and the humidity lower in my coop than bowls of water. I don't have enough electricity out there for 15+ heated bowls, LOL

 

[cottage19]

We use an electric heater base for our metal waterer. It wasn't cheap - I think we paid about $45 at our local farm bureau store but it worth the $$ and does the job well. It only comes on when the the temp drops to the low 30's and is a great backup for our constantly replenished water bowls that freeze and have to be thawed out and refilled on a regular basis. I like knowing that the girls have unfrozen water to drink in the early morning when they come off the roost...