UGH!!!!!! I gotta go take water to all the chickens ......

[pbjmaker]

Just had to bring in the water bowl - I can usually turn it over and get the ice chunk out (rubberized bottom)
No go this time- so I brought it in, thawed it out, refilled it, and like citygirl had to dodge three dogs who want to go run and two cats who want to go out but hit the door and go -"Nah it's to cold, maybe it will be better in an hour"

I just made a big bowl of oatmeal for them too. Gonna go add some raisins to it and take it out to warm their tum-tums before they get locked down for the night.

At least I only have a small flock of chickens outside and not numerous other animals or it would be a whole day event keeping up with frozen water.

 

[cluckychick]

Quote:
When my water bottles start freezing I go to small metal containers I pick up at the goodwill store then I plug in a hot plate in the barn, dethaw enough to dump the ice cube out and add more water. It works wonders and takes about 2 minutes. I picked the hotplate up at goodwill as well. We use kitty litter containers as well to lug water. I have the larger ones for the DH and DS and then I use the smaller ones. As long as were all lugging water it's all good, lol.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I combined all my bigger birds (that aren't in my bathroom) into 4 coops for the winter. That means I need 8 sturdy containers so I can bring in the frozen ones to thaw. Wouldn't be such a big deal- but my coops are 1/ 4 mile from the house.

My entire face got wind burn after the first 5 minutes.

One night above freezing would be nice

 

[jjdward]

I feel your pain!!! It just isn't supposed to be this cold in Buchanan Georgia!!!! To top it all off, last night the pipes froze and when they thawed out this morning, they were all busted!!! I'm broke as a convict and have no water!!!! Just checked the weather and its not looking good for the next 10 days!!!!

 

[speckledhen]

Will be in single digits tonight where I live in the mtns at 2000 ft. We made a water defroster for the main coop out of a 3 gallon bucket turned upside down with a work light pushed through the side of it and that one never freezes; heatlamps are on the other waterers, but that won't help much at these temps, I dont think. Our outside faucets all freeze in spite of those styrofoam cover things, so water must be hauled from the house when that happens. This is highly unusual weather here for us, as the rest of you Georgians know.

 

[vicki2x2]

This is what I did to make winter easier. I live in Michigan and I hate hauling water! I also know it is not good for the animals to go without, it is what keeps them warm and hydrated. So I did a search and found the cheapest place online to order heated dog bowls for my coops with free shipping. I also researched heated water bottles for my rabbits and the cheapest ended up being at our local Family Farm and Home store.

Then I filled up a big stock tank (left over from my horses and donkeys) and plugged in the heater, it lasts me about 2-3 weeks, but that would depend on how many animals you have. I keep my hose in the basement so it doesn't freeze, hook it up from a faucet in the basement and fill the tank when needed, then dip my water out of that in the barn, so no hauling water that far and no frozen bowls and bottles to deal with. I do have a few birds in rabbit cages and a few extra rabbits this year. I use rubber bowls for the rabbits, just pop the ice out and refill. The birds I use plastic bowls, drop in the bottom of the water tank and give them another. Next time I need a bowl, I have one of those grabber things I reach in and pluck the bowl out with so I dont get wet. Ice is melted out and not wasted.

It has all made my life soooo much easier!! Chores are not so hard and take half the time now! I feel better knowing my animals always have fresh water available.

 

[Terri O]

Quote:
LOL--it must be us"Northerners" that use their heads here! Just kidding you Southerners...dont they have hoses down there? Hook up a hose to your kitchen faucet and stop hauling all that water! I have a frost-free type hydrant in my yard and I haul the hose out of the pit every day and drag it back in when I am done using it. It is 3 150' hoses hooked together and I can get all the tanks and waterers filled with it. Get electric heaters for your birds...make them or buy them---you wont be sorry! If you dont want to heat a big tank you can always drop dishes in a full bucket and then fish them out and refill.
Hey wait...arent we supposed to be worried about "global WARMING?"Hmmm--seems like global cooling to me.

 

[Equus5O]

My husband was home for the weekend,and I was working. I told him that he'd have to go out several times during the day and thaw out the waterer. I came home at about five yesterday, and found a frozen waterer with about an inch of water in it. He told me that he'd done the water about 45 minutes earlier. There I stood, in the dark, flashlight in hand, while the roosting flock UNroosted to jump out and have drinks!

 

[fatboys farm]

lockedhearts, a big 10/4 on hauling that water. it dont generally get this cold in the south. poor chickens, i wind proof and everything but i have 5 coops and runs. i wish we could heat the coops . not just the chickens but all animals have it rough in this weather. some say thet have coats of fur or feathers but i like to see them outside all night with a fur coat on. hope to shake your hand one day and see your farm.

 

[quietheart]

Woke up this morning to all pipes frozen

, that means unless they thaw enough there will be no water for the animals or the humans

. I really wish this place had better plumbing and that it was insulated

. My SO finally got it thawed enough to fill the tub

I'm keeping all my birds cooped up today though cause it's sooo cold. I'll be hauling water out in a few hours when it get a little warmer

And

the water at the kitchen sink just started running again.