Watering in winter

[StarChicken]

Probably not what you're looking for, but last year I bought a heated waterer. I think it's about a gallon and a half or two gallons. That way when things freeze over, my chickens have water to drink and maybe the neighbor wouldn't have to refill so often.

I also run my hose up over a low limb in a tree and then run it to top of the pen and down through the wire to hang above where I need the water to go. When I'm finished watering, I disconnect the hose from the faucet and the water drains from both ends of the hose.

As for the freezing faucet, here's a solution; it can be removed when necessary and replaced afterward.

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=insulation+for+outdoor+faucets

Hope this will help.

 

[chickens really]

I need to clarify this. In the past I just rolled up the hose and shut off the the water, by shut off I mean turn the knob not completely shut the water. Of course I've never needed to use the water. I was under the impression that when it gets cold that will freeze so it's useless anyways, no?

I do not have a lot of knowledge with this stuff at all. Another learning adventure.

If I could figure out a way to run a hose without causing major issues by turning it on and off I would. I got a smaller heated bucket for dunking, that I can carry in and out--will still be a pain.

No...Mine is outside and I use the tap every day all winter long. Mine comes from my basement to the outside of my house. Has never froze and I'm in Alberta, Canada..

 

[StarChicken]

If I shut off the water at the spigot each day when I am done what are the chances I am going to cause some flooding issues in my house? Everything I have read says you need to shut water off to the outside spigot for the winter. Maybe a cover would help that?

See my reply just before this . . . I missed this part.

I'm not a plumber, but I've done my share of simple plumbing. I do know that outside faucets aren't going to affect your in house plumbing, so there's no chance of that happening. Once a faucet is shut off (inside or outside), unless it's defective, no other faucet, on or off, will affect it.

However, and this info is just for grins, if you have the outside faucet running and turn on an inside faucet, your water pressure won't be as strong on either end.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Frost free faucets are also down from the covers too. I love my heated buckets they are so nice to have.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Just bought a heated water bowl for the exact same problem.

 

[llombardo]

Frost free faucets are also down from the covers too. I love my heated buckets they are so nice to have.

I ended up with a 5 gallon and a 2.5 gallon heated bucket. The only thing with those is disconnecting the plug which is in a protective cover and is a pain to open.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just set out the 5 gallon on yesterday for the geese and ducks the other 2 hopefully won’t get drained as fast and give the chickens something to drink out of. Those waterfowl can sure drain a bucket fast.

 

[PirateGirl]

How many ducks do you have? They certainly can go a few days without swimming water. How much water would the neighbor be hauling? I have 6 medium to large ducks and they can do just fine with one 3 gallon bucket of water a day. It's not too huge to carry and only takes one trip to the tap. Would they like more water, probably, do they NEED more water, no. I guess what I'm saying is that maybe your ducks can get by with less water while you are out of town and it's not really a big deal to haul one bucket for your neighbor. Or what if you pre-fill a few gallon jugs that the neighbor can keep in their house or something so that when the neighbor walks over they can bring the jugs with them?

 

[CrystaBub]

Thanks for the tips - i'm going to order a collapsible hose right now @Miss Lydia !

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are sure a blessing I have used them for about 3 yrs now can't say enough about them. Don't kink either