[JohnVW]

I seem to remember ages ago reading that a little glycerine in the chooks drinking water stops it freezing.  Am I correct, I don't want to do the wrong thing.  I saw a post a little while ago about porridge so we made some warm porridge this morning and gave it to our four girls for the first time and they loved it.  Hopefully it warmed them up a bit although the cold doesn't seem to bother them.  How cold does it have to get before it's a problem?  This is our first chicken keeping winter.  John VW

[Dabhand]

Hi JohnVW

Welcome to the forums.  I haven't tried glycerine as I am lucky enough to be around my girls during the day to change water if necessary.   I would have thought it would work if it's a mild freeze but in deep freezing conditions I think the candle under the tin trick is the best thing.  My 6 girls love porridge too, it's such a pleasure to see them enjoying it.   Don't worry too much about the cold conditions as chickens are quite hardy.  Make sure they have some shelter and that they are not subjected to any draughty conditions.  Ironically a couple of mine are going through a moult at the moment which is a shame as they need their feathers to keep warm! 

[Aunt Sally]

It doesn't really work John.  You would have to add quite a lot of glycerol for it to be effective.

http://www.americanbio.com/Certificates_PDF/Glycerol_freezing.pdf

[viettaclark]

Don't chickens eat snow? It seems logical that they would if they're desperate for water?
Mind you....chickens and logic....hmmmm

[joyfull]

you can buy heat pads that you put into a microwave - these are supposed to be for keeping small animals warm - not sure how long they stay warm but placed under a water carrier they may be just enough to stop it freezing up.

[8doubles]

Don't chickens eat snow? It seems logical that they would if they're desperate for water?
Mind you....chickens and logic....hmmmm

Mine do , i try to keep an ice free water dish for the small songbirds but the first thing the hens do in the morning is have a good peck at the snow.

[Junie]

I'm going to try a fish tank heater, but I have elecricity to my henhouse, so that may not be good for you if you do not.  I do need to find it first though!

[8doubles]

An aquarium air pump and airstone may be better than a heater.

[Aunt Sally]

My DIL uses one of these to stop the chickens water from freezing.  I works very well but you do need mains electricity.

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Electric_Heater_for_animal_drinkers.html

[Junie]

An aquarium air pump and airstone may be better than a heater.

Hadn't thought of that -  I'll try both and see which is better

[8doubles]

An aquarium air pump and airstone may be better than a heater.

Hadn't thought of that -  I'll try both and see which is better

I thought that the insulation on the aquarium heater may suffer if abused by daft hens.