Winter Watering???

[Cookie's_Clucks]

I know I have quite a while to worry about this seeming how it is still only July, but I was just curious as to how all of you (who live in cold climates, like me) keep water in your coops during winter without it freezing and such????

 

[pawsplus]

Given your climate, you'll probably want to invest in a heated waterer. I think it would be hard to keep it from freezing otherwise!

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog...ies/Heated-Waterer-Plastic-3-Gallon-p505.aspx

 

[carrlr]

I use a stock tank with a submersible heater. It keeps the water around 35-40 degrees. I have cinder blocks in the stock tank, just in case one of my chickens were to slip in.

 

[puredelite]

What works well for me is the heated dog waterer's that come from Tractor Supply Co. They are 'bout half the cost of the one's made for poultry and altho they might not hold as much water they are well worth the price.

 

[pawsplus]

Quote:
You don't have a problem w/ them getting really messy really fast? I like the poultry waterers b/c they hang at beak-level, which keeps dirt and debris out. The few times I've used bowls they were a mess w/ in a few hours! Maybe if you put the bowl on something elevated?

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

How about a nipple in the bottom of a container you can put an aquarium heater in? Then have a nipple drinker on the container.
Costs less than a a stock tank heater to buy and operate

 

[NYRIR]

Heated water base (I keep outside so I don't have to worry about fires) and a galvanized waterer.

 

[CartierChicken]

I plan to use a brew belt. I bought my husband a brewing kit, and it came with a brew belt to help keep the beer at a certain temp while it is fermenting. It fits a 25-30 little barrel, so it is perfect for my 30 liter chicken waterer.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I have rubber bowls for winter watering. Every morning, first thing, I put hot tap water in the bowl and take it outside. When I come home for lunch, I top it off with water from the tea kettle. If I get home before dark, I top it off with more hot water, although it's usually dark when I get home and the chickens have all gone to roost. It seemed to work well enough for me last year. Granted, I only have 7 (hopefully down to 5 this winter) chickens and they live very close to my house right off the back deck due to having a small yard. If I had a lot more birds or larger property where the coop was a little further away from the house it would be a different story.

 

[Cookie's_Clucks]

Thanks for the tips everyone!