Watering during the winter in New England

[Homesteader82]

We have a coop with an attached run. During the summer we have a water bucket with nipples and feed bucket underneath the coop. However, in the winter, we are not sure how to keep their water from freezing.

They will have no access to an abundant amount of sun and no electricity. The water would be kept inside the coop as well.

We plan on changing it out every day. Do you have any other suggestions?

 

[grayjay11o]

we use a water heater that you can put your waterer on, most feed stores sell them.

 

[Homesteader82]

I don't have power out there.

 

[Elsveta641]

I don't have power out there.

Without power you're going to have to haul them out water multiple times a day to keep it thawed. They will get dehydrated and die just as easily as summer without water. I learned that the hard way being lazy about hauling water in winter. In Iowa winters ranging from 25 to -30 degrees F, I had to haul water 4-6 times a day to keep it from freezing over.
Something that helps is filling a pop bottle with very salty water, like brine. Seal it up right and caulk the cap to prevent leaking. That wont freeze and it floating in the waterer seems to help it from freezing over.
We ultimately ran electric to the barn and used the heater pans mentioned above. However they only work down to about 0-10 degrees. Below that they do not help at all.

 

[Elsveta641]

Oh also using rubber buckets or rubber bowls helps it not freeze as fast and makes it easier to remove if it does freeze. Dont use plain plastic or metal in winter with no heat

 

[Homesteader82]

I'm going to try a Fortex rubber bowls (they seem safe for them to drink from) and keep an eye on it throughout the day. Thoughts on that?

 

[Elsveta641]

I'm going to try a Fortex rubber bowls (they seem safe for them to drink from) and keep an eye on it throughout the day. Thoughts on that?

That will probably work. I used to just carry 2 gallons of water, go kick the ice out of the rubber dish and refill. Then bring the jugs back out for the next trip. As long as the birds are never without thawed water for more than a half hour or so everything should be fine

 

[RoosterML]

Any reason why you couldn’t do a solar setup?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Be careful if keeping water inside the coop in winter, as that will add humidity which needs to be vented out or else it can contribute to frostbite issues during periods of freeze.

 

[Jealous Gypsy]

We have a coop with an attached run. During the summer we have a water bucket with nipples and feed bucket underneath the coop. However, in the winter, we are not sure how to keep their water from freezing.

They will have no access to an abundant amount of sun and no electricity. The water would be kept inside the coop as well.

We plan on changing it out every day. Do you have any other suggestions?

We have a coop with an attached run. During the summer we have a water bucket with nipples and feed bucket underneath the coop. However, in the winter, we are not sure how to keep their water from freezing.

They will have no access to an abundant amount of sun and no electricity. The water would be kept inside the coop as well.

We plan on changing it out every day. Do you have any other suggestions?

I also am offgrid in Maine, the rubber bowls may work , i will also talk to my chicken whisperer as i am curious too beings in northern maine we get -50 up here. I melt snow in the winter cause i cant use my handpump , but keep in mind too if the coop is insulated and chickens are letting off body heat it may not freeze up as quickly as you think ( just in theory) ill talk to the whisperer soon