If you are like me, you don’t like going out in the cold! If you are like me, you also collect animals that need attention outside in the winter! Oops!
One of the worst things about chicken keeping is winter weather. Chickens need access to water all day long and freezing temperatures mean frozen water! Here are a few options to change that…
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Nipple Waterers & Drop in Heaters
My favorite type of waterers are the ones with the spouts that the chickens have to tap to release the water. I like these because the chickens can’t get the water dirty by dipping their beaks inside. Dirty water leads to disease so this is my main reason for using them. I also like them because the chickens don’t end up with frostbite on their wattles from dipping them in the water. In the winter, I drop in a heater to keep it from freezing. This solution works really well! The nipples are close enough to the water that they don’t freeze.
Click> My favorite 5 gallon nipple waterers
Click> Option number 1 for a drop in heater
Click> Option number 2 for a drop in heater
Click> Small nipple waterer for small flocks or separated chickens
5 Gallon nipple waterer
Mini heated waterer
^^A short video to see the drop in heater! ^^
Heated Open Waterer
Heated open waterer
I also use this style waterer with my chickens because I have a crossbeak chicken who can’t drink from the nipple waterers. This one fills from the bottom so you have to turn it upside down, fill it up and flip it back over. Make sure it is locked in tight before flipping it because I have made the mistake of covering my boots in water! It plugs in and the water doesn’t freeze.
Power to the Coop
If you are just getting started and have the extra funds laying around, I highly encourage you to run electric to your coop! I promise, you will not regret it. We didn’t do that so we use extension cords that are rated for outdoor use (12 gauge or higher), and extension cord covers for anywhere the cords connect. If you are plugging in multiple waterers, the outdoor splitter is a great option.
Click> Outdoor extension cord
Click> Extension cord connectors
Click> Outdoor splitter
Another way to get power to the coop is by using solar power. This is something I have looked into but haven’t made work just yet. Two brands I have researched and like what I see are…
Click> Jackary Solar Power
Click> Eco-Worthy
The only problem with solar power is that you need the panels and converters and enough power for the wattage that you are using. It becomes quite expensive.
Powerless Options
I have seen it all. Bottles filled with salt floating in the water, waterers placed in old tires, Insulate the waterer with hay, etc. Believe me, if I found a way to make any of those work in my Ohio winters, I would be screaming it from the roof top! I’m sorry if you got excited when you saw this section.
Without a source of electricity, you might be going out to the coop multiple times a day to change out the water. There is nothing wrong with that if you like the cold and don’t mind it! Using the rubber livestock tubs is helpful for breaking ice because they are flexible making them easy to bend and get the ice to crack.
Warnings
There are many viral videos out there showing things like slow cookers hooked up to keep the water from freezing. Slow cookers are not made for outdoor use. The cords and mechanisms aren’t safe for damp, cold places. The crocks can crack if they are exposed to extreme temperature changes. I had one crack in my own sink after I filled it with water while it was hot. Please don’t use those!
Heat lamps have been shown hanging over water to keep it from freezing but they are not a safe option. Heat lamps burn down coops, barns, and garages every year!
I hope you find something that works for you and your flock!
Did you know I wrote a book? Check out Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple!