Winter water suggestions

[Thomaswgordon]

Hey everyone, this will be our first winter with chickens and trying to get some ideas before the freezing temps come in. We live in Maryland and it gets decently cold during winter. We currently use this waterer with the automatic filling cups. I would love to just keep using the same waterer but I haven’t been able to think of a way to prevent the water or cups from freezing.

 

[TooCheep]

If you can run a line to your coop, then the easiest way to keep water liquid in freezing weather is using an electric heater. If you get one, you'll need to look for one that is explicitly marked "safe in plastic" and has a built-in thermostat. They will keep the water just above freezing and not run continuously. I'm afraid those cups won't work. Keeping the container warm won't keep those cups liquid. You can use horizontal nipples as one option.

You can see some deicers here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=water+deicer

 

[Acre4Me]

I hear the cups will still freeze.

We tried the plastic bucket with nipples and a bucket heater. The heater was supposed to keep it from freezing (not heat up till hot), but one didn’t work and the other actually heated the water to quite warm and the welds on the cage for the heater (the cage keeps the heater from touching the plastic bucket) rusted. So, chickens don’t like hot water nor rusty water, so that was a fail for us. But, many people have success with bucket heaters and nipple waters.

We use a metal 5 gallon waterer on a heated metal base that keeps the water cold, but not frozen. This summer I purchased a large 5 gallon plastic waterer (Harris Farms brand?) and apparently it can also be used with the metal heater base, since the heater base isn’t making anything actually hot. Both these waterers have the tray all around the base, they are not nipples or cups.

 

[jreardon1918]

Here is a link to our water solution. This heater keeps the water above freezing.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/heated-waterer.1550674/post-26204467

 

[AnnPann]

i use the same waterers year round and just break up the ice each morning. if it’s cold enough to freeze again during the day, then i have a heated dog bowl that i’ll use as a backup. i’m not sure it’s the most efficient setup, but it worked out OK last year and the dog bowl was cheap.

 

[K0k0shka]

I use a heated dog bowl every winter as their only source of water and it has been working out great for me! It's cheap, easy to refill and clean, doesn't freeze, and hasn't malfunctioned yet. I have a large one for the run, and a small one for isolation/quarantine/emergencies.

 

[ASHLEYINAK]

I use this in Alaska and it works GREAT. No issues ever. I know it's not a solution to the waterer you want to use, but it's an easy, reliable option!
https://alaskamillandfeed.com/shop/63840100/

 

[Mamagirl3]

I use this in Alaska and it works GREAT. No issues ever. I know it's not a solution to the waterer you want to use, but it's an easy, reliable option!
https://alaskamillandfeed.com/shop/63840100/

Have you had any issues with wattles being wet then getting frostbite with this waterer? Thank you.

 

[gimmie birdies]

My way is not easy, but I have plastic farm bowls full of water. It freezes overnight, but I leave a bit of space to the top. In the morning I bring out hot water, it thaws what is in the bowl. The hens don't like very cold water. I try and keep it clean some what warm and open, they drink more and lay better.

If the bowl freezes over, I take it out of the coop, turn it upside down and pour hot water over the back side of the bowl, the frozen water falls out of the bowl, then I refill the bowl.

 

[wamtazlady]

I use a 20 gallon clear plastic tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. The deicer has a built in thermostat. Only have to fill it every 2 weeks which to me is a plus during the winter.