Water source when really cold?

[KCGirl]

I've been reading about cold weather prep, and think we have it all covered EXCEPT I have two girls that seem to have either beak/eye coordination or vision problems, so we never used nipples at the water source. This is their first winter. Now it's super cold with 25 mph winds with a 'feels like' temp of zero F. At night, 0-3 degree lows the next few days with sleet and snow. While most of the run is covered, it's not completely wind free. Will they get frostbite on waddles with this waterer in the run?? Other suggestions? (No electricity at the chicken house or run)

Buff Orphingtons, Plymouth Rocks, and a few Easter Eggers. Thank you!

 

[SmiYa0126]

I have open waterer for my chickens, no one, it even roosters have any issues. I keep their run draft free.

 

[Sic]

I wrapped my run in plastic except for the top foot or so to keep it draft free and dry, however, I still have to bring their waterers indoors at night to keep them from freezing.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Even with a heater, those types of waterers with the shallow troughs may still freeze. I use deep buckets/bowls in the winter (one is outside with a birdbath heater in it) and my chickens have never gotten frostbite on their wattles (-20°F is the coldest it gets here). BUT I don't have roosters and they have a very large coop that they stay in when it's cold and windy out. How big is your coop?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Sorry, I just realized you said there is no power to your coop. I would use 2-gallon buckets in your situation and replace when the level is too low for the chickens to reach it or it freezes. The more water there is the slower it takes for it to freeze. Place it in the least windy spot as possible.

 

[Yardmom]

I have had the waterer in the picture. We had terrible problems with the water flow rate. We would think it was good and then it would stop flowing. It would not be good in winter even if it worked correctly. In your temperatures Rubber bowls from TSC are easy for breaking ice out. Or have buckets for trading. It sounds like you have plenty of ventilation which can help with preventing frost bite, but some environments just make preventing frost bite a challenge. Here the humidity can stay high even when below freezing.