Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: bajmoe on December 03, 2014, 08:45

Title: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: bajmoe on December 03, 2014, 08:45: I have 3 plastic chicken drinks containers all at different heights off the floor, with added cider vinegar which i am told helps raise the temperature a little, minus 2 last night but this morning they where all frozen, chickens need access to water at all times.

Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: Springlands on December 03, 2014, 08:55: I am not aware of anything safe that you can put into the water. Could you move the drinkers into a frost free shed or garage if you know there is going to be a frost. Or keep a couple of empty spare drinkers - that is what I do. :)
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: bajmoe on December 03, 2014, 09:49: Quote from: Springlands on December 03, 2014, 08:55
I am not aware of anything safe that you can put into the water. Could you move the drinkers into a frost free shed or garage if you know there is going to be a frost. Or keep a couple of empty spare drinkers - that is what I do. :)

My chickens are on my allotment, and come out of the coop about 6.30 am they need water when they wake up
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: Sassy on December 03, 2014, 09:53: No! I stopped using the traditional waterers a few winters ago when we were getting minus 18 degree temperatures. I use a small bucket. It still freezes but the ice can easily be popped out for refilling, unlike chook waterers! The bucket stayed cleaner and did not get knocked over. As I tUsed to hang their water up it would empty if it was windy, not with the bucket. :)
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: Sassy on December 03, 2014, 09:56: Quote from: bajmoe on December 03, 2014, 09:49
Quote from: Springlands on December 03, 2014, 08:55
I am not aware of anything safe that you can put into the water. Could you move the drinkers into a frost free shed or garage if you know there is going to be a frost. Or keep a couple of empty spare drinkers - that is what I do. :)

My chickens are on my allotment, and come out of the coop about 6.30 am they need water when they wake up

There are folk that set up a small candle under the water. I don't really think it will matter if it was an hour or so after they got up before they had access to water. :)
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: Aunt Sally on December 03, 2014, 13:57: When I kept chickens I used to use one of these:

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Electric_Heater_for_animal_drinkers.html
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: 8doubles on December 03, 2014, 18:08: I prefer a stainless steel (wilko) dish in winter as it will not split or crack if banged to get the ice out.
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: grinling on December 12, 2014, 20:06: I use a sweet tin for winter, but also have a water feeder in the polytunnel for them and that hasn't frozen. Also use cold water and not warm as that freezes quicker.
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: Helenaj on December 14, 2014, 15:51: I use a puppy heat pad - the round ones that look like a frisbee and you warm them in the microwave. One fits easily under my big 6ltr drinker to keep it from freezing during the day (they are good for 12 hours heat if you place them on a bit of straw to keep it off the floor). Night-time I empty them all and put them in a frost free area. I would rather the inconvenience of filling them everyday rather than risk cracking a frozen drinker.
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: barley on December 16, 2014, 06:12: I use old metal saucepans

I raise them up on bricks and leave a T candle light burning underneath
Title: Re: Has anyone come up with a way of stopping the chickens drinking water freezing?
Post by: Beekissed on January 12, 2015, 08:29: I use a heated dog water bowl up on a step stool so they can't kick litter into it. Never freezes, works well.