Where do you keep your water?

[LynneP]

In warm weather I have a small rubber bucket outside for the hens because they love to play with the water and it saves them a trip inside. In cold weather I avoid that so they don't get frozen wattles, and have a heated dog bowl (1.5 gal) inside. I like the water inside for another reason- no algae buildup, and with my setup it's easier to dump the container and wipe it clean before adding new.

I use the same bowl in the warm season indoors too, unplugged- very easy to clean.

 

[the1moe]

Actually, they will be in the coop overnight for 12 - 13 hours... So I will have to put them in the coop at about 4:30 pm and then let them back out in the morning when I get back from work... We currently have 50 chicks about a month old and want to get them out of the brooder and into the coop and run... they are really a lot of fun to watch... thanks for your inputs..///Moe

 

[HenniePennie]

Due to our wonderful weather here in the foothills of Mt Hood my girl's water froze for a couple days. I finally was able to hang a red heat lamp about 1ft above the 5 gallon plastic watering container. The water now is not freezing and it also gives the girls a little warmth.

 

[Mahonri]

I have a small one just outside of the run outside... they can reach their head through the fence and drink if they are out there. I have the large one elevated on blocks inside.... and I'm always cleaning pine shavings out of it. That's the nature of it.

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

Quote:
I gave up on the chicken waterers. They are messy and hard to clean daily. I use small buckets. We have heated ones for winter, plus a heated dog bowl. I also have found that the little buckets that my horse vitamins came in are just the right height for chickens - maybe 8 or 10 inches high.
So I have the heated water containers in the coops. And one heated bucket just outside of our barn. Since my chickens free range (except today with 8 inches of snow...), I keep these little water buckets all over the place, in the barn and outside the doorways. Since I am working out in the barn a lot, I change frozen ones often. We have hot water in our barn, fortunately.

 

[jeannieo]

Quote:
hey, maybe you could answer my question that I put in a separate post but no one has answered. I have the same water set up but I think I'm doing something wrong or I got a defective waterer. I have to fill it then flip it over to put in the dish/pan and I always lose half of it and when I'm trying to juggle the remaining water to the heater set on blocks I lose about half again. what's the deal here? am I just stoopid?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Newbie here.
This post gave a lot of similar answers and good info which is what i needed.
Here is my question though . . . some people mentioned automatic waterers are these different than the plastic or metal cans they sell at the feed store? And other than suspended light bulbs what are some methods of heating the water and not really the coop. (I saw the dog water dish idea). It would seem to me that a few fine minds could overcome the difficult/dirty/freezing issues. I am applying my brain to it but mine alone doesn't seem to be enough . . . I know there is some brilliant person who has already figured this out . . .

 

[cajunlizz]

I have about 4 - 1 gallon size waterers , BUT I also put 4 gallon size plastic containers in the corners of the 2 RUNS .


We do not have bad winters like most of you do , SO , my hens spend most of their time outside in the runs , other than going into lay and roosting at night . they have 24/7 access . POP door stayed open .


They do all their drinking and eating outside . I never put water nor feed inside the coops ....