Thought I would add a couple more ideas to this discussion. Some people have suggested adding salt to the drinking water since salt water does not freeze as fast as fresh water. Not a good idea. The amount of sale needed would not be good for the birds. The same holds true for adding glycerin to the water. It might lower the temperature needed to freeze the water by a couple degrees but not a good thing for the chickens to drink.
There is a 3rd idea which just might work and this one would be safe. Dig a hole. Add fresh manure to the hole. Put a bowl over the hole with the water. In this case the natural composting of the manure would create heat and keep the water thawed. I have been thinking to run an experiment this winter using this technique. I'd like to see how cold it could be and still have the water thawed. I already use an extension cord, tote with lid, stock tank deicer, and horizontal nipples to keep my birds in water during the harsh winter. However, the manure idea is intriguing and I'd really like to know how well it does work. Have neighbors with horses so a supply of fresh manure would be easy to obtain. If anyone has used this technique I would love to know how well it worked. I live in NW Montana where the temperature often goes down into the -20s F. Am interested if composting manure would keep water thawed at those types of temperatures.
For winter I add wood shavings, hay, and leaves to my run. The sides of the run are covered in clear plastic on 3 sides for the winter. It always feels warmer in the run to me than the outside. I have always assumed that there is composting happening and creating heat. Maybe this year I should put a remote thermometer in there to monitor the temperature and figure out how much heat compost can actually create.
There is a 3rd idea which just might work and this one would be safe. Dig a hole. Add fresh manure to the hole. Put a bowl over the hole with the water. In this case the natural composting of the manure would create heat and keep the water thawed. I have been thinking to run an experiment this winter using this technique. I'd like to see how cold it could be and still have the water thawed. I already use an extension cord, tote with lid, stock tank deicer, and horizontal nipples to keep my birds in water during the harsh winter. However, the manure idea is intriguing and I'd really like to know how well it does work. Have neighbors with horses so a supply of fresh manure would be easy to obtain. If anyone has used this technique I would love to know how well it worked. I live in NW Montana where the temperature often goes down into the -20s F. Am interested if composting manure would keep water thawed at those types of temperatures.
For winter I add wood shavings, hay, and leaves to my run. The sides of the run are covered in clear plastic on 3 sides for the winter. It always feels warmer in the run to me than the outside. I have always assumed that there is composting happening and creating heat. Maybe this year I should put a remote thermometer in there to monitor the temperature and figure out how much heat compost can actually create.
