Winter Challenges

[Ketty Ash]

I'm hoping some of you have ideas for keeping your flocks watered during deep freezes. Our coop has no electricity. We hang a watering can in a corner, but it has been freezing fairly quickly. Any suggestions?

 

[Welshies]

Chickens and waterfowl will eat snow, so in emergencies I provide snow, but ideally water should be provided.
You can use heated dog dishes with extension cords, but if you don't have electricty... you can bring in warm water from the house twice a day. That's what most folks do without a heated dish.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have electricity and a heated waterer in the raised coop. I use a rubber bowl under the coop. You can hit it against a tree or rock if it freezes. It comes in many sizes. You can put it on a couple of blocks to minimize shavings getting in. If you get a larger size, you can put a gallon jug in the middle to keep chickens from stepping in. I got mine at TSC. GC

 

[jthornton]

I'm hoping some of you have ideas for keeping your flocks watered during deep freezes. Our coop has no electricity. We hang a watering can in a corner, but it has been freezing fairly quickly. Any suggestions?

Insulate the can, sounds like a metal can and metal conducts heat very fast. And of course change the water often.

JT

 

[Ridgerunner]

I also use a black rubber tub I got at Tractor Supply. If you set it in the sun it will stay thawed pretty well, that black absorbs heat. In Kentucky you should have some clear sunny weather during cold snaps. Of course you also have cloudy days and you won't see any sun at night. Depending on how hard it freezes I either use something to break the ice on top if it's just skim ice or bang it on the ground to knock the ice out and refill it. That's about as low tech as you can get.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do you have other animals? There's a great article on using manure/compost to keep you water warm.

 

[Ketty Ash]

I also use a black rubber tub I got at Tractor Supply. If you set it in the sun it will stay thawed pretty well, that black absorbs heat. In Kentucky you should have some clear sunny weather during cold snaps. Of course you also have cloudy days and you won't see any sun at night. Depending on how hard it freezes I either use something to break the ice on top if it's just skim ice or bang it on the ground to knock the ice out and refill it. That's about as low tech as you can get.

I'm going to buy a black tub in the morning. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Ketty Ash]

Do you have other animals? There's a great article on using manure/compost to keep you water warm.

We have dogs.

 

[Ketty Ash]

Chickens and waterfowl will eat snow, so in emergencies I provide snow, but ideally water should be provided.
You can use heated dog dishes with extension cords, but if you don't have electricty... you can bring in warm water from the house twice a day. That's what most folks do without a heated dish.

Thank you.

 

[Welshies]

Thank you.

I always give mine free choice snow, except for my chicks and quail, they get water 24/7. Then I bring warm water out once a day.