Water in winter

[SallyMcD]

The water will not freeze solid because of the insulating quality of the wooden 2x6s.
For a couple chickens one holder can be for food and water, for more numerous chickens, 2 water-ers can be lined up in the holder. Use a larger holder for as many jugs as you want.

If ice does form, it breaks out easily to empty with a tap on the ground or a tree.
This is an easy way to provide clean, wet, fresh water for (essentially) free!

 

[skinnyhen]

Does anyone have any suggestions about the heated waterers made specifically for chickens? Can I use my plastic gallon water fount on top of the galvanized heater that says to use only a galvanized fount? Any thoughts on the all in one plastic heated founts?

 

[centrarchid]

In my location the water will freeze even with wood insulation. Larger volume would be helpful in slowing freezing.

 

[CherylNJ]

This will be my first winter as a chicken momma. We do not have electricity at the coop. We keep their water outside the coop not inside. We have found they spill it or do not drink out of it. We have thought up a system that we hope will work. We have 2-1 gallon waterers. We fill one up in the morning and put it out when we leave at 6:30 am, when I arrive home at 3:30 I switch it out with a new one. We are hoping that will work but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I love my girls and want them to be safe, happy and well taken care of.

 

[SallyMcD]

Try doubling the wood on all sides but the access-side and adding a capped full gal jug of hot water behind the accessible one for the chickens. Even when I lived in central New-England (temps of -20 o F) this method worked for me and my laying hens.

 

[centrarchid]

This will be my first winter as a chicken momma. We do not have electricity at the coop. We keep their water outside the coop not inside. We have found they spill it or do not drink out of it. We have thought up a system that we hope will work. We have 2-1 gallon waterers. We fill one up in the morning and put it out when we leave at 6:30 am, when I arrive home at 3:30 I switch it out with a new one. We are hoping that will work but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I love my girls and want them to be safe, happy and well taken care of. 

You can spare some need for liquid water by providing something like soaked oats or soaked whole corn. Even when frozen the birds can injest a lot with less work required than when consuming ice. Also look into offering sprouted grains as an alternative water source as such can be 80% moisture.

 

[ccat1]

I am sure this may have been covered in another post about "bucket heaters" in winter, but what about an Aquarium Heater? I know they are in a glass case, but one might be used with proper protection from the birds, or even put down into a piece of larger PVC, with both PVC and heater submerged in the waterer.
Has anyone used one of these to keep their water from freezing? Would it even work?
I'll follow this post closely.
ccat1

 

[jerrey]

Can you run an orange extention cord (50 or 100ft.) to your coop? A $20-30 heated dog bowl would run great on that and holds about a gallon which you could fill up twice a day.

that's what I did the heated dog bowls are great but this fall I moved the chicken houses real close to the house

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You can spare some need for liquid water by providing something like soaked oats or soaked whole corn. Even when frozen the birds can injest a lot with less work required than when consuming ice. Also look into offering sprouted grains as an alternative water source as such can be 80% moisture.

X 2 - I love to use soaked feeds to help ensure good hydration in the flock (and with the horses) in winter.

 

[jerrey]

In my location the water will freeze even with wood insulation. Larger volume would be helpful in slowing freezing.

you are in holts summit I can't believe it I live in holts summit also the heated dog bowl is the why to go