trough waterers and frostbite?

[sals_chicks]

I live in a super cold northeastern climate, so in prep for winter I bought a couple of these heated trough waterers...

They've been working great, the chickens are happy. However, I saw a tiktok the other day about how these style waterers can increase the risk for frostbite as your hens are dipping their waddles into the water to get a drink, and that nipple waterers are better.

I hadn't heard this being an issue anywhere else before - what is your experience? Should I replace with nipple waterers?

 

[Mary Poopins Love]

I don't know about that. I do understand about the claim. When they take a drink, they get their wattles wet, then the cold. I don't know. It is very interesting. if it is tiktok, then I would be careful. Are you able to return it and get your money back?

 

[LilRedmamma]

I live in a super cold northeastern climate, so in prep for winter I bought a couple of these heated trough waterers...
View attachment 3335736

They've been working great, the chickens are happy. However, I saw a tiktok the other day about how these style waterers can increase the risk for frostbite as your hens are dipping their waddles into the water to get a drink, and that nipple waterers are better.

I hadn't heard this being an issue anywhere else before - what is your experience? Should I replace with nipple waterers?

My 2 cents is that my girls haven’t gotten frostbite in 5 degree days, drinking, dipping their wattles in the bucket of water. Ok I’m’cheep’ - I put a small aquarium heater in a 1 gallon Igloo cooler strapped to the run fence. Every morning I fill it, every time they dunk to drink!
Edit : I fill it because I empty the water every evening at nnite time and unplug it. I wrap the outdoor cord around the post so it doesn’t get tangled. They’ve never pecked it! The little heater is stuck on the bottom, a 20 watt for a 5 gallon fish tank. It’s programmed to maintain 70 degrees (indoors) so outdoors in the frigid chicken run it stays barely warm to not freeze. It’s on a picnic table seat that’s just tall enough they can easily jump up. The water stays clean and UNfrozen. And I don’t need to refill all day. I also dump the water so the freezing water doesn’t crack the heater— surprised it still works for a $4 Amazon cheapo.
I know lots of coops don’t have electricity but mine is only 30 ft from the house. So I AM making a waterer for warmer days which is why I’m on here today!
Don’t fret, they’ll wipe off excess water in the bedding.

 

[saysfaa]

Mine drink from a bucket. I see their waddles wet after they drink, at least when it is warm enough for me to want to stand around until they drink while I am watching. They didn't get frostbite. The coldest they have been is a single digits below zero F (-18 C or so) for short stretches and mid teens F (-8 to -10 C) for long stretches.

I don't know why; best guess is part of it is being well hydrated helps keep good blood flow through their unfeathered parts.

Edit to add. I don't have any roosters. And the hens don't dunk their waddles into the water. They get wet only from what drips down as they swallow. That might also be from having the top of the bucket about level with their backs - I don't know if they would dunk waddles more if it were lower.

 

[Folly's place]

I think that having roosters with smaller combs and wattles is a very good idea when living in cold climates, and that heated dog water dishes are problematic in below freezing temps, both for those wattles, and feet, if the birds walk through the water bowl.
Once in 30+ years we've had a rooster with frozen toes/ feet, a disaster for him. Once was enough!
We use waterers on heat plates in the winter, inside on shavings, not out in the snow.
@sals_chicks is using a waterer that works, but is a royal pain to manage! Upside down filling is a mess, and the top fill type plastic waterers are easier, IMO.
Just use what works for you...
Mary

 

[K0k0shka]

I'm in the Northeast, too. I use a large heated dog bowl (so LOTS of open water surface) and haven't had a problem with frostbite. The bowl is elevated on a tree stump in a corner of the run, with a "step stool" in front of it, so the chickens step up to it to drink. That way they don't step in the water (and it stays clean as it's too high for them to kick dirt into it). I have Orpingtons and Barnevelders, so their wattles aren't big, which helps. And I don't have roosters. So with those chickens and that setup, it's been fine.