Will they drink more?

[fiberart57]

So, twice now, I've extolled the virtues of the red plastic three and one-half gallon heated waterer but tonight when I went to put the girls to bed, I'm having second thoughts.

My main area of concern with the waterer is that it only keeps the water at 35 degrees. What this means at 10 below, which it is supposed to get to tonight, is that there will be a scrim of ice on the surface, or there will be ice around the rim of the waterer. So the water is very cold. I have seen them drink from it and the level drops steadily during the day so I know they're using it. But I'm wondering if they would drink more water if it was a little warmer? Or does it really make any difference?

Does anyone have some insight on this question?

Mary

 

[dacdeihl]

I know mine are drinking less water but eating more food. I'm not concerned of using a water heater, mine says that it starts to heat when the temp get sbelow 35. It was 14 out this morning and it was working great. I wouldn't worry.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I don't have the heated waterer, but I had to get a new heater base last year & the new ones are only good to 10 degrees. My old one kept water thawed even at minus degrees, but when the temp went to 5 last year, I had ice in my water. Sure was a disappoinment, as they seem to be made the same. I would say you may have a coating of ice depending on how cold your coop actually gets.