Freezing Water Cups

[LBA830]

I use a 5 gallon bucket with 3 rent a coop poultry cups with a water bottle of salt water in the bucket. The cups seem to freeze within 2-3 hours though. Any highly recommended heated chicken waterers? Or a heater I can put into the bucket that will keep the cups from freezing?

 

[Annalyse]

At my TSC they have a heated water thing. I havent used it because I dont trust wires by the coop in freezing temps. You can try amazon for a deicer.

 

[LBA830]

At my TSC they have a heated water thing. I havent used it because I dont trust wires by the coop in freezing temps. You can try amazon for a deicer.

Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Watering cups will freeze even if the water inside the waterer is liquid, because they're sitting outside of the body of the waterer.

Horizontal nipples are the most resistant to freezing out of all the toggle-type options as most of the body of the nipple is inside. The unit I use is: https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/premier-1-heated-poultry-waterer.11903/

 

[Byrd gal]

I use a heated dog bowl.

 

[333113]

I make sure they get water at least once or twice a day, and I don't worry about freezing in between.

 

[mamajos]

I have a heater in the bucket, with horizontal nipples. Works well for me, rarely freezes. Hasn’t yet this winter.

 

[Shezadandy]

If freezing isn't a major issue in your area, I would just drain the cup waterer (so the cups won't break with the water expanding into ice) and replace it with a good sized bowl of water as the last chore of the night. Mine will peck through the ice to get the water in the bowl if it freezes overnight.

 

[Aapomp831]

I make sure they get water at least once or twice a day, and I don't worry about freezing in between.

Your chickens don’t have a constant supply of fresh water?

 

[333113]

Your chickens don’t have a constant supply of fresh water?

Usually they do. But during trips back and forth to chicken shows and during chicken shows and during icy weather, they get to drink a couple of times a day.