{"id":666,"date":"2016-10-24T15:24:17","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T22:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.plamondon.com\/wp\/don-t-let-the-chickens-water-freeze\/"},"modified":"2017-02-20T17:38:33","modified_gmt":"2017-02-21T01:38:33","slug":"don-t-let-the-chickens-water-freeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.plamondon.com\/wp\/don-t-let-the-chickens-water-freeze\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Let the Chickens’ Water Freeze"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keeping the chickens’ water ice-free during the winter can be a struggle! Here are some easy ways to make it happen.<\/p>\n

Galvanized Buckets for Winter Waterers<\/h2>\n

\"Galvanized<\/a>The classic technique for full-grown chickens is the old bucket switcheroo: when you go out to tend the chickens, you bring out a galvanized bucket of warm water, and leave it for them to drink from. When you leave, you\u00a0take away the partly empty bucket you left for them last time, because if it’s not empty, it’s frozen. You bring the frozen bucket inside with you and leave it in a place where it will thaw a little, so the ice will slide out easily.<\/p>\n

I think ten-quart galvanized buckets are the right size for this, though twelve-quart\u00a0buckets\u00a0are okay if that’s all you can find. I’ve had too many plastic buckets split when frozen, so I don’t use them anymore.<\/p>\n

The Wooden Float Trick<\/h3>\n
\"float<\/a>
Bucket with wooden float<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here’s an idea hardly anyone has heard about: Make a wooden float for the top of the bucket. It’s just a wooden disc a little smaller than the bucket, with a few 1″ holes drilled in it.<\/p>\n

The chickens drink through the holes, and the float delays the formation of ice for a long time.<\/p>\n

Even better, the holes prevent the chickens from getting their combs and wattles wet when they drink.<\/p>\n

Wet combs and wattles are the<\/span> major cause of frostbite. Chickens can tolerate a surprising amount of cold if they stay dry. It’s wetness, more than cold, that leads to frostbite.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Insulating the bucket<\/h3>\n

The water will freeze much more slowly if you provide some kind of insulated sleeve for the bucket (not styrofoam: chickens love to eat styrofoam). Wrapping the bucket in aluminized bubble insulation, available at your hardware store or online, is good.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Electric Birdbath Deicers<\/h3>\n
\"Electric<\/a>
Birdbath with electric deicer<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A more high-tech solution is to use electric heat. A lot of people use overhead heat lamps, in spite of the hideous\u00a0expense this entails. ($65\u00a0per year if you leave a 250-watt bulb on for 90 days at the US average of $0.12 per kilowatt-hour.) Let’s be more targeted!<\/p>\n

I like Birdbath Heaters<\/a>\"\" combined some kind of metal bucket or pan, such as a galvanized pet waterer<\/a>\"\". You can also add a wooden float and have the best of all worlds.<\/p>\n

\"Automatic<\/a>
Automatic pet waterer<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These thermostatically-controlled birdbath deicers use a lot less electricity (as low as 40 watts) and 100% of\u00a0the heat goes to warming the water. I like galvanized and stainless steel pan waterers\u00a0instead of teh plastic ones\u00a0because mixing plastic and electric heaters makes me shudder. Sure, the heater has a thermostat, but I prefer not to trust such things fully. If you use a plastic waterer anyway, use a low-wattage heater. A 50-watt heater won’t do much damage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In hot weather, chickens like cool water, and in cold weather, they like warm water. This is true, but in my mild\u00a0climate, attempting to keep the chickens lukewarm (except during the brooding period) isn’t something I’d spend money on. But people in colder climates might find it worthwhile.<\/p>\n

Heated Waterer\u00a0Bases<\/h2>\n
\"Heated<\/a>
Heated waterer base<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can also use heated waterer stands<\/a>, which will work with a variety of waterers including the usual double-walled water founts. Me, I use automatic waterers when I can, and buckets when I can’t, but lots of people like galvanized founts.<\/p>\n

Freeze-Proof Automatic Waterers<\/h2>\n

Here’s the rule of thumb: an automatic waterer will be freeze-proof if it has a metal valve. This includes:<\/p>\n