what to do with frozen water

[aart]

I was joking, when we were out late at night, we were not drinking water, but rather an alcoholic beverage.

This one often precedes the next......haha!

Breathing heavy does not fit the tread

 

[ChickenGirl555]

hi everyone today we had are first snow and the birds water has frozen. we let are birds free range and I went to check on them and their feet were pinker than usual we do not have a heater in the coop because of fire hazards and are coop is to far away to run a extension cord I gave them some warm oatmeal but they seem dehydrated because their water is frozen what should I do? please reply ASAP

I’m not a big professional like some people on this site, but I had an idea that maybe put hot (not boiling) water? So it wouldn’t melt as fast. Just an idea, I wish you luck though!

 

[Mrs. K]

Or a container of water with you....

Well...when we were sitting in a car in the winter in the dark, we were not drinking water... just saying.

 

[Mrs. K]

I was joking, when we were out late at night, we were not drinking water, but rather an alcoholic beverage.

Mine does not have water in the coop, I have at times tried it, and wound up with a mess. I do have a shelter in the run, and during inclement weather, I will put it there.

If you can provide open water everyday, it is probably an advantage. I cannot, and really see no loss. They do get liquid water each morning, and many will be taking a pretty good drink at that time. However, in really cold weather, that freezes up quick. Lucky for me, while we will get a could of very cold weather, it generally only last a few days and then gets nicer.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

If You Do Have Electricity

If you DO have electricity to your coop and run area, you have a few more options. Heated waterer bases are available commercially, but they are expensive and don't seem to last more than one or two seasons.

There are tons of instructions online on how to make your own heated base out of a cookie tin, but the waterer can easily slide off the slick metal surface of the tin. Even scarier, we've had several people tell us theirs caught on fire, and one guy, in the comments below this post actually had a chicken electrocuted. Not good. And anyway, I prefer to store cookies in my cookie tins! So just say NO to the DIY cookie tin heater. Instead why not try....

Lightbulb in a Cinder Block - This idea is brilliant. You clamp a light bulb inside a cinder block and cover it with a stepping stone. Your waterer sets on top of it. The rough surface prevents slipping and this couldn't be easier or safer in your run in winter.

This was much more useful than my idea.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

If You Do Have Electricity

If you DO have electricity to your coop and run area, you have a few more options. Heated waterer bases are available commercially, but they are expensive and don't seem to last more than one or two seasons.

There are tons of instructions online on how to make your own heated base out of a cookie tin, but the waterer can easily slide off the slick metal surface of the tin. Even scarier, we've had several people tell us theirs caught on fire, and one guy, in the comments below this post actually had a chicken electrocuted. Not good. And anyway, I prefer to store cookies in my cookie tins! So just say NO to the DIY cookie tin heater. Instead why not try....

Lightbulb in a Cinder Block - This idea is brilliant. You clamp a light bulb inside a cinder block and cover it with a stepping stone. Your waterer sets on top of it. The rough surface prevents slipping and this couldn't be easier or safer in your run in winter.

This was much more useful than my idea.

 

[Chicken lover 123]

ok but what should I do about there feet because they seem really cold

 

[ChickenGirl555]

If you put a golf ball in their water the chickens will usually peck at it and the golf ball stirring around the water will keep it from freezing, hope this helps!

I find this interesting, does it have to be a shiny golf ball?

 

[Mary's Backyard Chickens]

ok but what should I do about there feet because they seem really cold

They will probably be just fine. Chickens can handle cold very well. They usually don't need heat unless it's like -0 outside.

 

[(chicken pun)]

I don't know, but I feel like the shinier the golf ball the better.