Waterer in coop--too much evaporation with cold temps?

[texsuze]

Four of my hens roost in a smallish, elevated coop at night and free-range during the day. For 7 years now, I've had a small metal water fount sitting on a cookie tin heater, which then sits on a Pavestone inside the coop. The pop door flap remains open, but overhangs the entrance (like a porch). On occasion (in winter) I've turned on the cookie tin heater overnight, keeping pop door open. This is mainly to have unfrozen water available.

Question: If cookie tin heater is ON, is evaporation from the waterer going to create a potential frost-bite situation with our night temps this week? (temps could drop to 10* with wind chills possibly to single digits on several nights)

Question: Should I (a) just remove the waterer altogether, or, (b) leave it inside the coop and keep heater OFF? The second water source is in the run, which will certainly freeze overnight and remain frozen in the morning.

Fretting......

 

[Percheron chick]

I would remove it. They don't drink at night and if there is enough evaporation to increases the humidity inside the coop, why go there?

 

[ToniTalley]

I have the exact same set-up in my coop. It is currently frigid, below zero windchill most of the day and all night, and the waterer has to be plugged in, and there is no way to plug it in to be in the run outside of the coop. What I did was cut two holes in the coop wall right over the heated waterer so the moist air is vented out.

 

[texsuze]

ETA, I have hardware cloth windows (narrow, long) on each wall of this coop at about ceiling level. They're covered with clear plexiglass now for winter, but I have the ability to slide plexiglass to create open gaps on any window needed.

Might an open pop door, plus a small window gap allow moist air to escape and still keep my chooks comfortable? Right now we're getting humidity from mist and drizzle anyway, along with temps going below freezing and the wind chill to boot. Thanks for all the input.

 

[ToniTalley]

Oh my goodness, we also have the same windows, haha.I keep the plexiglass shut tight, and just depend on the holes above the waterer and the pop door to provide ventilation. Also, the back of the coop opens fully, the wall is basically a big door, and even closed, I'm sure a bit of air can get through the crack.