Water Temperature ?

[BJ37]

Winter is close, 21 F last night. I built a water warmer so they have water, not ice, when they get up in the morning. Does the temperature make a difference to them? I can keep the water at any temp. and wondering if it is OK to just keep it above freezing, or is it better for them to have it at 40 or 50? Any thoughts or suggestions.?

 

[jmagill]

My chickens drink more water when it is warmer in the winter and lay more eggs. I know they choose the warmer water because I had two waterers and they always drank from more from the one with the warmer water. It had a higher wattage aquarium heater..

 

[BJ37]

Thanks for the input. Do you know the temperature of the two water sources?