5 gallon bucket waterers in winter. Help!

[Lulu-vt]

It’s my first year using 5 gallon buckets with nipples. It’s been amazing and I love this more than any other waterer I’ve had.
But….
The nipples are all now frozen. I have both types, horizontal, and vertical.
I don’t have electricity to my coop and really don’t want to run an extension cord from my house because it would have to cross the driveway. What are my options to continue to use the 5 gallon buckets and if there are no options for that what else do you suggest?

 

[aart]

Smaller containers, 2 or 3 of them, swap them out as needed.
Keep them somewhere warm in the house so there's always a warm one to take out.

 

[Lulu-vt]

Smaller containers, 2 or 3 of them, swap them out as needed.
Keep them somewhere warm in the house so there's always a warm one to take out.

Sure. I was hoping for a more “hands off” approach as I’m often not home to be able to do that. I’m not sure what advice I was looking for. The “silver bullet” of new technology that keeps chicken waterers unfrozen in winter!!

 

[User690263]

Here's a tutorial that was designed for horse water buckets, but might work for what you have as well.
https://search.app?link=https://diy..._campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl2,sh/x/gs/m2/4

 

[gimmie birdies]

I do have a heated waterer, and a long cord plug in for my chickens. I also have a shallow tub for my goose, since he likes to dunk his head. He plays with the water during the day, and doesn't allow the water to freeze. I dump the water at night so I will have a free water tub every morning.

You may try using other waterers. I also have nipple ones that are currently frozen.

 

[aart]

Sure. I was hoping for a more “hands off” approach as I’m often not home to be able to do that. I’m not sure what advice I was looking for. The “silver bullet” of new technology that keeps chicken waterers unfrozen in winter!!

Wake up...you're dreaming!

 

[Yardmom]

I use 5 gallon nipple waterer buckets, but only when temps are above freezing.
My freezing temperatures watering method is to use black rubber tubs (3 gallon size) such as tractor supply sells. I am able to easily dump the ice chunks and add fresh water.

 

[KyCoop]

Yeah winter is the time of year that makes even seasoned chicken people wonder WHY do we HAVE chickens!

Even electric, hested chicken waters are not fool proof and nothing will make it totally hands off.

I personally run the bucket brigade. I have one in the bathtub as we speak. I run a fresh one out every morning before work. I also have put up my wind panels that helps keep the water from freezing so fast.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Use a short section of older extension cord across the drive, it will hold up longer than you think. You will know what to check if the power goes out. A small night light on the same cord out side the coop where you can see it from the house would be helpful.

As to the heater, a cookie tin with a 100 watt incandescent bulb will work if you wrap some insulation around the top and sides. Set the water bucket on top of the cookie tin. If you can, cut one of the wires going to the bulb, wire one cut end to the cord going to the outside night light, with the wire continuing back inside the cookie tin and going to the other end of the wire. That way if your bulb burns out, the night light goes off too.