The waterer keeps freezing!

[MyPetNugget]

Almost every time I go out in the coop the water is frozen. I replace it every 2 days and lately it has been frozen halfway empty. I am looking for something that is not electric. Do the rubber dishes work well?

 

[Smithyard Farm]

I am not sure what rubber dishes you are talking abut. Seems to me the only way to keep water from freezing is to add heat to the water dish or bucket or heat the coop. That's hard to do without electricity...

 

[Percheron chick]

Rubber is better because it won't crack like plastic will but it won't keep things liquid longer. Just take the drinker inside or dump the bowl at night. They don't drink at night and can wait until you open up the coop in the morning.

 

[MyPetNugget]

Rubber is better because it won't crack like plastic will but it won't keep things liquid longer. Just take the drinker inside or dump the bowl at night. They don't drink at night and can wait until you open up the coop in the morning.

Thanks I never thought of that.

 

[jaj121159]

The best thing about rubber livestock bowls is when the water freezes, you flip it upside down and step on it and the ice pops out.

 

[Mahlzeit]

The rubber bowls are great! They freeze just as fast as anything else but flip it over dump it out and refill it.

 

[write2caroline]

I know you would prefer not using an electric solution but I wonder if you could use a very low voltage wire like this wire we used when we lived in new york and we had it on the roof and in the gutters to inhibit water freezing - It was really low voltage and I was wondering if you used something made for snow and ice if it would be okay to use in and around the coop and the chicken waterer.

Just thinking maybe? We got it at loews or Home Depot
Caroline

 

[Jrose]

My girls HATE their rubber bucket

They will readily drink anything else first, or even eat snow. I don't blame them though, rubber is pungent and flavors the water.

 

[MyPetNugget]

It seems as though rubber dishes get the best reviews so I will try to get those. Thanks for all the reviews and they are very helpful.