Methods for keeping water from freezing

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maysorum

maysorum

In the Brooder
8 Years
Apr 5, 2011
20
1
22
Hello-

How do you keep your chicken's water from freezing during the winter without electricity? Is it even possible? Any ideas appreciated!
 
Last edited:
If you live in a mild climate, where freezing weather does not go on and on for months, simply carrying buckets of water is what 99% of the folks do.

If you live where I live, where sub freezing temps last for 6 months, there's no choice. Electricity. It is too much carrying and I'd have no life. Even solar would likely not help much for me. It would be tough to keep snow off the collectors and we have extremely short days and lots of grey days too.
 
Fred's Hens :

If you live where I live, where sub freezing temps last for 6 months, there's no choice. Electricity. It is too much carrying and I'd have no life. Even solar would likely not help much for me. It would be tough to keep snow off the collectors and we have extremely short days and lots of grey days too.

I live in south central Wisconsin, so it's definitely cold! I was wondering if anyone had tried things like pipe insulation, etc?​
 
In the winter we add a shelf to the coop and put the waterer up there. We also have a hole cut into it and a work light screwed underneath keep the water liquid.
Just keeping it elevated may help.
We also have 2 water containers so if necessary we can take one out to the coop in the morning and then bring it in overnight to thaw and take another out in the evening. Water is important.
 
I live in NC where we have milder winters (I;m from W. PA where it gets really cold, though!) I bought an electric heated waterer at the feed store this winter when I got tired of carring buckets every morning. Works great, and wasn't too expensive.
 
Since you are in Wisconsin, I'd recommend one of the electric type. Homemade out of a cookie tin, expensive heated poultry font from TSC type store, or simply use the inexpensive dog bowls, the big ones, that plug in. I just set one gallon buckets into the dog bowl. Works like a charm, super easy.

Without electricity? That is a really tough one. I'd invest in an exterior, heavy duty, construction tradesman extension cord, 100 footer, and provide power for the winter. No one is going to run the lawn mower over it.
 
Without electricity? That is a really tough one. I'd invest in an exterior, heavy duty, construction tradesman extension cord, 100 footer, and provide power for the winter. No one is going to run the lawn mower over it.

We run power as needed by extension cord--and yes, I've run over it with the mower and plowed it too.
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I've wondered about using a insulated thermal jug...like construction crews have. Would it be possible to put it up on a shelf and run a tube down into a rubber bowl? Would that help?? I have always used electric base heaters for mine but have considered trying something like what I described. I have searched online but can't find anyone that tried it.
 
Here, the cold would penetrate the thermos within an hour or two at most. Secondly, at -30, the tube would freeze shut in minutes.
I carry water in December, but by Christmas time, I get out the heated dog bowls and plug 'em in. At 10F, they can keep a gallon bucket set in the bowl thawed easily. At -20, they can only keep the bottom 2/3 of the bucket thawed. I just pout a little hot water on the surface in the morning. It usually warms up to 5-10F by noon and the bowls work fine all day long. Next morning, if it still sub-zero, same routine. But hey, I have to gather eggs and feed the hens anyhow.
 

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