Winter water

[venymae]

I highly recommend a stock tank deicer. This is the one I used in our 5 gallon horizontal nipple water container. It's plastic safe, has a heavy duty cord, and automatically turns off above freezing to conserve energy. We were VERY happy with it.

 

[aart]

I don't think a heating pad will work

Agrees....not warm enough to keep water thawed and not really meant to work in frigid temps...but @RonP uses them in his nests.

I'm glad to know they can figure out the horizontal nipples quickly. That has been a concern.

Don't count on this and wait until the last minute, start training them now.... some catch right on, but I've had some take two weeks to really 'get it'.
You don't want to be training them in extreme temps where dehydration can quickly become a serious issue.

This is what I use for winter water:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[6PeckinChickens]

This is my first winter with my girls. I was wondering if anyone has used an aquarium heater in their waterer?

 

[aart]

This is my first winter with my girls. I was wondering if anyone has used an aquarium heater in their waterer?

Yep, see link in quote below...or the post right above yours.

This is what I use for winter water:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[OG Anomaly]

I highly recommend a stock tank deicer. This is the one I used in our 5 gallon horizontal nipple water container. It's plastic safe, has a heavy duty cord, and automatically turns off above freezing to conserve energy. We were VERY happy with it.

This is absolutely perfect for us, thanks for sharing
(And I haven't thought of Dinotopia in forever! )

 

[dgh]

i have a heated hose connected to a 275 gal tank.
I also make this waterer. posed about it on another thread. Iwill be using a submersible fish tank heater
I can also up a light bulb underneath in an aluminum or tin tray.

 

[NNYchick]

I bought a heated dog bowl and have had it in with my silkies since September so they could get use to it. They don’t use it. This weekend we have been in the teens so I’ve been going out and changing water in Thier regular plastic one Thier feathers around their face are frozen from getting them wet. Their feathers weren’t getting wet before. Not sure how to get them to use the bowl? Or what I should do I’m not home weekdays, if I take the plastic water container away will they use the bowl?

 

[cavemanrich]

Not sure how to get them to use the bowl? Or what I should do I’m not home weekdays, if I take the plastic water container away will they use the bowl?

IF THEY GET THIRSTY, THEY WILL GO FOR WHATEVER WATER AVAILABLE. I have the bowl in their run spring, summer and fall. I also keep a few other bowls of water around. They are spread out. I skipped saying winter, because after Thanksgiving, I house my pets inside winter housing in garage. Have to due to short days when we leave ........ its dark ..... and when we come from work..... its dark. In their winter loft, they have 12 hours of light on timer. I also provide multiple water (3) in heated smaller Crock Pots. I control the warmth with a dimmer switch. Water stays just above freezing.
You can read more details in another thread that I post in. Wednesday at 12:52 AM#8592

 

[OG Anomaly]

IF THEY GET THIRSTY, THEY WILL GO FOR WHATEVER WATER AVAILABLE. I have the bowl in their run spring, summer and fall. I also keep a few other bowls of water around. They are spread out. I skipped saying winter, because after Thanksgiving, I house my pets inside winter housing in garage. Have to due to short days when we leave ........ its dark ..... and when we come from work..... its dark. In their winter loft, they have 12 hours of light on timer. I also provide multiple water (3) in heated smaller Crock Pots. I control the warmth with a dimmer switch. Water stays just above freezing.
You can read more details in another thread that I post in. Wednesday at 12:52 AM#8592

Love the crock pot idea!! Thanks!

 

[tigger19687]

Heated dog bowl. They are drinking out of it because it is in the same place as the other water was. It isn't heated yet as it isn't cold enough to have to plug it in. Thye do very well with it, no feathers are getting wet