Winter water

[wamtazlady]

I made my own waterer for winter. The ones I could buy were just not large enough for my needs. I don't have a lot of chickens but I am 69 years old. I need the chickens to have enough water for over a week in case the weather is too bad for me to get outside and I can't get someone to immediately take care of them.

I use a plastic semi clear 11 gallon tote with lid I bought from Walmart. Horizontal nipples were added. Horizontal nipples are less likely to drip than vertical nipples. I have been using them for about 6 years without an issue. Cups will freeze when it gets cold even if you have the water container heated. To keep the water from freezing a 150 watt stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic was also added to the tote. This set up has kept the chickens in thawed water down to -22 F for over a week even when I had a dozen birds.

Since my run is roofed and 3 sides are covered with clear plastic during the cold weather, the water and the food are kept in the run even in the winter. Before the roof was put on I would just use a tarp to keep the run dry. The girls hate to be inside no matter how cold it is outside but they do not like walking on snow.

 

[Jenthehen127]

They don't really "flow" but as long as the chicken pokes or applies pressure on the nipple it'll drip water.

Issue with the little cups is they simply don't work in freezing weather, as the cups are entirely outside of the waterer itself. With horizontal nipples, the majority of the nipple mechanism is inside the housing of the nipple, so they're more likely to remain usable even in freezing temperatures.

For your vertical nipple issue, was there an air intake hole in the waterer to prevent a vacuum from forming?

That is a good question! I bet that was the problem! Never even though of that!
I know the little cups won't work for winter. I think I might get this one. I liked it when saw it! I only have 7 girls so it should work!

 

[Jenthehen127]

I made my own waterer for winter. The ones I could buy were just not large enough for my needs. I don't have a lot of chickens but I am 69 years old. I need the chickens to have enough water for over a week in case the weather is too bad for me to get outside and I can't get someone to immediately take care of them.

I use a plastic semi clear 11 gallon tote with lid I bought from Walmart. Horizontal nipples were added. Horizontal nipples are less likely to drip than vertical nipples. I have been using them for about 6 years without an issue. Cups will freeze when it gets cold even if you have the water container heated. To keep the water from freezing a 150 watt stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic was also added to the tote. This set up has kept the chickens in thawed water down to -22 F for over a week even when I had a dozen birds.

Since my run is roofed and 3 sides are covered with clear plastic during the cold weather, the water and the food are kept in the run even in the winter. Before the roof was put on I would just use a tarp to keep the run dry. The girls hate to be inside no matter how cold it is outside but they do not like walking on snow.

Thats my next challenge! What kind of clear plastic do you use? Is it flexible or roofing plastic? I'd like to enclose 3 sides also. I'd like to be able to remove it in the spring.

 

[wamtazlady]

Thats my next challenge! What kind of clear plastic do you use? Is it flexible or roofing plastic? I'd like to enclose 3 sides also. I'd like to be able to remove it in the spring.

It is a tote with lid. It is a plastic rectangular box that people use for storage. I did not make the tote. I bought it at Walmart. I sit it on an old footstool that I had laying around to bring it up to the right height. I do not use it in summer as it is semi clear which means the alga grows in it during the sunny months. I only use this particular tote during our freezing months.

 

[Jenthehen127]

It is a tote with lid. It is a plastic rectangular box that people use for storage. I did not make the tote. I bought it at Walmart. I sit it on an old footstool that I had laying around to bring it up to the right height. I do not use it in summer as it is semi clear which means the alga grows in it during the sunny months. I only use this particular tote during our freezing months.

Sorry! I meant the plastic you used to enclose the run!

 

[rosemarythyme]

That is a good question! I bet that was the problem! Never even though of that!
I know the little cups won't work for winter. I think I might get this one. I liked it when saw it! I only have 7 girls so it should work!

The waterer I use/linked also optimally favors having an air intake hole. I drilled mine a bit oversized, figuring with freezing in winter I didn't want to risk the hole getting frosted over, but even a tiny hole like 1/8" would do.

 

[wamtazlady]

Sorry! I meant the plastic you used to enclose the run!

Sorry, I did not realize that is what you wanted to know. I use clear vinyl shower curtains.

 

[Suzz]

I use a heated dog dish and a 100 foot outdoor cord that l plug into the garage works great

 

[CaliMaine]

We use a rubber bowl and just dump the ice out multiple times a day and refill it

and this works ok? what temps do you face during winter? I hope to avoid using anything I have to plug into electricity.

 

[wamtazlady]

and this works ok? what temps do you face during winter? I hope to avoid using anything I have to plug into electricity.

I know people who use rubber bowls. They work well if you can go out at least 2 times a day to give the chickens new water. If it is very cold you might have to go out more often. It just depends on how fast the water freezes.