Topic of the Week - Keeping Water from Freezing

[ChacoLuvsChiggens]

I have a 5 gallon bucket with the nipples they push in to get water. I buy a small cheap aquarium heater and put it in the water, we have been down in the low teens and last year below zero with no issues.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Connecticut: 14 degrees at 6;30am. I use the small rubber buckets for waterers which are obviously frozen. I go outside with x2 one gallon containers of water. (old cranberry juice bottles with handle). I toss the frozen rubber waterers onto the ground and fill with the fresh water. I do this x2. This takes about 2 minutes. I do not trust the electric variety because they dont keep the water thawed at 14 degrees or less. This water will be frozen again by 2pm so I'll do what I did before. There are 101 ways to make sure chickens have fresh water. Its your job to figure out which routines/methods work for you and your flock. Best of luck winter chickens!

 

[StinkyAcres]

I do not trust the electric variety because they dont keep the water thawed at 14 degrees or less.

You must have had a bad heated bucket because mine keeps the water thawed well below 0*F.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

You must have had a bad heated bucket because mine keeps the water thawed well below 0*F.

Last year it did fine less than 20. I did some remembering and realized last year i had it sitting on top of an upside down rubber tote with hay and straw stuffed underneath to act as a bit of insulation. This year I had it hanging from a chain when it under performed. I set it up today with the rubber tote and all. we shall see. The other factor is i choose not to wrap the coop to the top. I did a half wrap when we had that cold snap.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Last year it did fine less than 20. I did some remembering and realized last year i had it sitting on top of an upside down rubber tote with hay and straw stuffed underneath to act as a bit of insulation. This year I had it hanging from a chain when it under performed. I set it up today with the rubber tote and all. we shall see. The other factor is i choose not to wrap the coop to the top. I did a half wrap when we had that cold snap.

May I ask which heated bucket you have? Mine is kept outside all winter and the water has never frozen in it.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

This is the one I have. i used it last year with no issue, but it was a milder winter in CT, and, i think the way i had it situated was more insulated. (on top of a bucket stuffed with leaves and hay. The other day it was 14 and it hanging only. I since situated with the upside down rubber bowl with hay and leaves underneath.

 

[StinkyAcres]

This is the one I have. i used it last year with no issue, but it was a milder winter in CT, and, i think the way i had it situated was more insulated. (on top of a bucket stuffed with leaves and hay. The other day it was 14 and it hanging only. I since situated with the upside down rubber bowl with hay and leaves underneath.
View attachment 4008248

Ah, okay, so not a bucket but a poultry waterer. It doesn't look all that insulated and the trough is shallow so I could see why it would freeze. I use a heated flat-back bucket from the same company - no trough or nipples; the ducks/chickens just drink from the top.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Ah, okay, so not a bucket but a poultry waterer. It doesn't look all that insulated and the trough is shallow so I could see why it would freeze. I use a heated flat-back bucket from the same company - no trough or nipples; the ducks/chickens just drink from the top.

Thanks Stinky. I will continue to explore options to avoid from changing water so often throughout the winter. The first 2 winters I was so delighted to run out there and be a chicken tender. This year i wish it were automated. As of yesterday, the poultry waterer i showed has been placed on an upsidedown rubber bucket I stuffed with leaves and hay. Hopefully that does the trick. Also, at 7am it is 48 degrees. noone or thing is freezing today.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Also, at 7am it is 48 degrees. noone or thing is freezing today.

Yeah, it's in the high 40s here too! It's crazy! But it's supposed to get down to -3F at the start of next week. I hope my new bucket heater arrives by then!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Yeah, it's in the high 40s here too! It's crazy! But it's supposed to get down to -3F at the start of next week. I hope my new bucket heater arrives by then!

same! when i seen extended forecast i cringed. Heres a pic i took today. hopefully this will do the trick too! last week at 14 degrees, it was hanging freely. That rubber bucket is filled with as much ‘matter’ as I could stuff under there