I use those black rubber pans for my chickens for the last 6 year's, another good tip with these rubber pans is that with just a little sun even on a very cold day the sun heats them up and can melt enough for the chickens to get them a drink. I have my chickens come out in to a secure covered run and I place the black rubber pan where the sun will hit it most of the day and even on days in the twenty 's the chickens can drink from it.
have been raising chickens in Wisconsin for over twenty five years. If you don't have electric the black rubber hog pans do work great because they don't crack in the cold like you said. I would build some type of container around it and insulate around it. Spray foam or great stuff work well. Also cover half of the top with a piece of plywood or insulated cover.
A pile of compost under the water bowl was an accidental 'win' for me this Winter. All the other waterers are freezing, not the bowl of water on top of the compost! :)
@K,SodenWhat There's a restaurant where we get 5 gal buckets of spent coffee grounds. Mixed into the compost caffeine speeds the process and generates more warmth. I would be inclined to experiment with putting a lot underneath the coups and sealing the bottom sides with insulation and sheet metal. That heat might come up through the floor and help the coup be warmer.
I thought I knew all the tips and tricks, but even I, an old timer, found another good idea to add to my repertoire! But I need to say, that salt water needs food coloring in it so that you can tell quickly if it's leaked into your clean drinking water. You want to avoid any chance of your chickens drinking saltwater.
Best option we ever used were electric dog bowls. Even came with metal guards on the cords and work amazingly well. We have them in the barn, so get electricity. It gets cold enough here that the only real option is some sort of heating element. I liked the idea of items in the dish to keep the water moving though, that's smart!
Yep. It's not fun, but I had to run electric to my main coop after building it this summer and just ran conduit and 12/2 with a GFCI outlet to be able to keep the bantams water from freezing as well. I repeat, it's not fun, but it's worth it instead of trying to get around the problem.
Also, you can prolong it freezing by taking that rubber bowl and placing it inside an old tire (one that fits snug). Inside the tire add in some of those air pillows, like what is packed in when you order something. We have been doing this for the last few years, and it works great. In Feb. 21 we had real temps in the negatives for two weeks straight. A massive lake froze over for the first time in decades. Only the very surface of the water froze very thin and it didn't take much as at to crack it. We went out three times a day to check. Now we have Little Giant green electric water bowl. It's a big open water bowl, but we run an extension cord to the house, and it's been doing a great job this winter at keeping the water from freezing. So far we've had a few days of real temps in the negatives (-9 to -11) with windchills at -35F and wind at 40mph. Thankfully that cold snap is over for this week.
I use the black bowls in winter and the big 5 gallon waterers in spring through fall. I’ve tried the salt bottle and ping pongs and they don’t seem to work. I just give my hens fresh water from a gallon jug every morning and sometimes again on afternoon. It’s a good time to also do a chicken welfare check to make sure they’re all handling the cold well
Wut an excellent way to repurpose. Awesome idea. Who doesn't have an old tire living in country...just a moratorium on the toilet or old water heater in the front yard. 😳
In S. Ga/N. Fla it doesn't freeze hard very often, and most days warm enough to thaw our water out. But one thing I do is to use the large Hot Hands pocket warmers. If you can duct tape it to the bottom, the heat rises to the water mass. They're good for about 12 hrs, which is enough to make it until daylight and it warms up.
I wish there were more solar options for these types of things. It seems logical that farmers and other folks would lack access to electricity further from their home so it would be cool if brands could start integrating more solar power options. Heaters, warmers, pumps, etc would make so much sense. We have hotwire fencing and lights readily available with solar, I hope more products follow suit in the near future.
The problem is that heating requires a boat load of electricity. You could definitely put a solar array up that would do it, it just might be a bit of a big eyesore. I'm sure they'll become available when the solar tech catches up!
Keep in mind in Michigan, like Canada, you can go 3 weeks without seeing the sun. When the sun does come out it is low in the sky therefore the power is diffused by more atmosphere that the light travels through. Solar isn't a good option for northern latitudes.
Even something with a stick that moves around to keep the water moving.. that would require less power than heat production and would prevent the water from freezing. Or at least keep it from freezing nearly as fast anyway.
You can also set those rubber tubs on dark colored garden paving stones. The dark colored garden papers will absorb heat all day, then radiate it back through the night.
It will help but when the Temps remain below freezing more than a couple of days, expect there will be ice & lots of it. I'm in NW Florida, so we don't see weeks of single digit temperature weather. I'd be looking into insulating the waterers... maybe recycling an old ice chest laid on its side, facing the sun & put the water bowl inside?
Hi use a large wide rubber bowl. I also have a electric dog bowl but I haven't plugged it in yet. Remember, you only need to keep the water thawed during the day. Dump it out at night and fill it back up in the morning. That will make less work for yourself if you don't have electricity out there.
I hate like hell to burst your bubble but, salt water does freeze ! I have 10 salt water bottles in my freezer & use them in summer in my cooler to keep everything cold ! Also, salt water frozen is colder than just plain water. If you bring your water ears inside at night you have no problems with freezing! Ok a lil more miner work but when the temp goes down to -60 your water isn’t frozen when you bring it out to your chickens. I’m in Montana & yes it gets down to -60 sometimes. You can go to solar panels but that’s a lot of work with snow & batteries. Just bring them indoors over night.
I gave the video a "like" because the main idea is good. The idea with floaters is ok, too. It won't really slow down the freezing, but will keep access to the unfrozen water longer. But the idea of a salted water bottle somehow delaying the overall process is nonsense - it contradicts basic physics. Salt water doesn't freeze (it does, just at lower temps), but it will still get colder than freezing, so it doesn't prevent the outside water from cooling down and freezing. You'd be better off filling a plastic bottle with HOT water, then it'll act as a heat source, at least until the temps equalize.
I have used the black tub and salt water bottle for years, and have good luck here in our cold Maine winters. I have suggested it to several chicken friends, and they have been happy with the results too.
Great idea with the salt! We add apple cider vinegar to our water it changes the freezing point and helps with parasites. We also make a sleeve of the foil bubble wrap insulation we have had -0 temps and just slush in the plastic waters we do switch to the rubber bowels when our temps stay cold for extended periods. Thanks
On top of using rubber bowls, I always spray mine with Pam cooking spray or rub it down olive oil after cleaning them in the winter time. They'll still freeze in my area every night but the ice will pour right out 90% of the time
@@AcresOfAdventure No not at all, Pam is mostly canola oil, coconut oil, palm oil and soybean extracts. I'm sure that there's other things in it but it doesn't mix in with the water at all and hasn't bothered them what so ever. Been doing it for years with zero effects.
One other thing that I have learned through trial and error. The more water that is in the bowl, the harder it is to get out. Each chicken has their own bowl (inside of their community pen, given that space allows) so that they aren't competing for bowl time with other semi territorial chickens. I also put each bowl on its own pirch pedestal to keep their water clean from dirt and bedding when they're scratching around. So I only put about 2 to 2 1/2 inches of water in each bowl, again through trial and error each bird has about 3 to 4 hours of drinking time before freezing in the coldest times of the year. Didn't mean to write a book but hopefully it can help someone out. Thanx
What if you try filling a thermos with boiling water then seal it up tight and drop it in your chicken drinker. Perhaps the small about of heat seaping out through the walls will help keep the water from freezing just a little longer.
I use 2 insulated nipple waters, place them in a large shallow pan or use a plastic oil pan so the water doesn't get the coop floor wet. Put them inside the chicken coop, fill with warm water, on really cold days change out about 1/2 way through the day, take frozen one inside to thaw out. In summer I freeze bowls of water and put in them to keep water cold.
Those black rubber tubs are what I use in the winter but we have had such a cold snap of winter right now and I can't even get the ice out in the morning to put fresh warm water in. I end up pouring hot water over the top of the ice about an inch or so. The chickens can still drink it even though it is only an inch of water over ice.
I'm in mid Michigan, many days that never get above 20°. I use a 15 watt light bulb under a waterer. Held up with a 4 inch tall 8 inch dia stove pipe. I have experienced a light skim ice at the very top inside the water container, when I go to refill it, it melts when you add more water. The bulb and socket just lie on the floor, which is concrete. If your floor is wood a 12 inch ceramic tile could be uses to insulate the wood from burning.
The salt water idea sounds good on paper but in reality the temperature in that bottle matches the surrounding temperatures. The fresh water will freeze at 32f and the salt will freeze at 28f. The salt simply prevents water molecules from bonding until lower temperatures. It does not have a heating affect to the surrounding area.
You can also put the rubber water bowl into a tire (that you took the tube out if it had one) and stuff the inside and underneath with straw and then put your bowl, into the tire, surrounded by the straw. Make sure you have enough under the tire to keep if off the cold ground! It should insulate the bowl enough to keep it liquid for a good while.
I would suggest the bowl as well. More work refilling daily but very useful. Great suggestions with the bottle of salt water and moving objects. I'm definitely going to try this! Thanks!
I've been using the rubber bowls for years. I got mine at Walmart in the pet supplies by pet bowls. They were cheap too. I use the huge one for water takes longer to freeze. The smaller for the food and scratch.
The big rubberized flat feed and water bowls work best. Empty it each evening. Fill it in the morning refill twice a day. Plastic water bottle filled with salt water works good to keep from freezing as fast. We live in Indiana and ran power to the chicken coop for lighting, ceramic heating bulbs, and a bird bath water heater, placed in a 5 gallon bucket with watering nipples It only 25 watts and works perfect. The light helps in winter egg laying, the heating bulbs were essential for the recent cold blast, and the heated water bucket worked great 👍 Great video and information
Michigan here too. And we have come up to the same exact conclusion you have. Using the same waterers. I thought the cups were going to work this winter. I have a heater in the bucket. But the cups still freeze even though the water in the bucket stays liquid with the heater. Temperatures are just too cold for the lukewarm water in the cups to stay liquid very long.
We're in northern Sweden, our hens are kept indoors all winter but even so, in our unheated building for them, the water bowls freeze within an hour. This is helpful because I'm constantly having to break or refresh the water for the chickens. Already lost two containers as they burst with the expanding ice.
An insulated top would be the most effective. With a hole just big enough for a chicken to get a drink. An old cooler would take quite a while to freeze.
It may take a minute longer to freeze, but the chickens don't want to drink hot water. I want them to have a cool refreshing drink to their hearts content before it freezes
@@pizzaguy3645 actually hot water freezes faster than cold water, but I assume that its different if its hot water in an insulated box outside in the freezing cold
I was under the impression that chickens dont drink or eat at night because they have very poor vision in the dark. They roost and sleep, that's it. I've never worried about their water freezing at night. Most chicken keepers I know close their birds up for the night with no access to the outdoors.
Do you know about the Compost and bucket trick? bury a bucket in the ground with Chicken Manure around it and under it as you back fill. Manure composting heat keeps the water from freezing.
Keep a good portion of the water surface covered with maybe rigid insulation to prevent heat loss from convection and heat loss caused by evaporation. Place the rubber bowl in a rigid insulation diy box. You basically put the bowl in an insulated cooler to help reduce the cooling effect to the surroundings.
My father in law would take a galvanized bucket, cut a hole in the side toward the bottom just big enough to fit the cord through, use a drop light and a metal mixing bowl that fits the rim of the bucket, works great.
We seen videos where they it that bowl in a tire with spray foam under it for chickens and 5 gallon buckets in a box with spray foam all around the bucket and a board with a hole in it for the goats to get to the unfrozen water. Yours is an amazing idea too! Thanks!
Thank for this video 🙌🏻 We were “gifted” our 4 Easter Eggers and chicken coop in July 2023…so to say I am a newbie is sooooo accurate. I have been researching and modifying almost every day. Got the automatic door 🎉 and finally got the chickens using the auto feeder 🍾. Now I’m working on the water for this coming NJ winter. Weather here is VERY schizophrenic especially since we live in a low lying area, so we can be warm 🥵or COLD🥶. I think I’m going with your suggestion since I don’t have electricity in the chicken area. Have definitely subscribed to your channel and check in frequently 👍🏻 PS ❤️ the Bears gear. Dad was a diehard Bears fan since we’re originally from Illinois.
For Winter our number 1 choice is to use heavy duty outdoor rated extension cords. Cut a small hole in the upper wall of your coop. Thread the extension cord thru the hole, attach a Thermocube. Then use an electric heated waterer.. I place it in a corner of the coop where I can easily check it and remove for cleaning and filling. Do NOT place it where perching chickens can poop in it. Another easy option is to have at least 2 black rubber bowls and keep swapping them out. Unbreakable!
Awesome tips. I've been struggling with the frozen water situation. This is my first year raising chickens. I'm in Ohio so not too far away. That 2 day wind and snow storm was tough on the chickies. Dealing with little bit of frostbite on their combs. Got some vaseline on em today. Lol I can go on about chickens all day lol Take care and subbed!
@@gaylecorwin3460 It's amazing how unaffected these birds are! And through the bitter cold I still getting 4 eggs a day from my 6 chickies. Yesterday I used 6 eggs for an omelette just trying to use em up! I had no intention in selling eggs but simply can't keep up with production lol. I have a few dozen on hand now at all times. What breed of chickies do you have Gayle? Mine are Barred Plymouth Rock.
@@nilasspasov8417 In the comments (or replies) l saw a suggestion & that adding a little food coloring in your salted water container so you can tell just if it ever leaks. You’ll know immediately & can put in a new salt water container while changing the water in the bowl to fresh water. GOOD LUCK‼️
What we do in the winter with the water feeder we take it indoors and put warm water on it for about five minutes. Let it Thor out and take it back to the coop.❤❤
Take care with roosters. I used a bowl with a water bottle full of salt water. It worked great but my roosters would get their waddles wet when they drank and then they got frostbite.
Thank you!!! I’ve been dealing with the same situation! No electricity and frozen plastic waterers! I have a black tub in now and am going to try the salt water bottle!!!
Have you tried the geothermal option? Where you dig a hole below freeze line, insert plastic drain pipe( keeps hole from collapsing. Then build a box with holed top to set you black rubber waterer in. Set top box over the hole setting it into the ground with only 2 or so inches showing, line box with straw but don't cover hole. Back fill around box. You can also paint box black for warm from sun. Place rubber water bowl in box hole. I've not tried it but heard it works.
I use 5 gallon bucket with nipple waterers on the sides for 12 chickens. If the temp drops below freezing I add the tractor supply electric bucket water heater. Never had the nipples freeze up on me. Water stays clean and only need to fill it once a week.
Thank you for this information! I live in Western PA United States and I'm constantly going out and checking waterers because they freeze. I paused your video and went out with a salt water bottle. I need 2 more but since we don't drink pop or bottled water I'll have to scrounge to them from someone. Have a great new year and stay warm. 💚
We are in MI as well! This winter has been really harsh! Some of my chickens suffered from frostbite due to the humidity in their coop but they’re still ticking thankfully.
Dig a hole the size of a car tire. Fill with compost or just wood chips/straw. Hollow out the middle of it. Insert bowl. Water will stay liquid at least 3x longer.
We live up in Canada. I used the smaller version of the first waterer and I boiled a quart of water in a jar and put it inside of it and that would keep it from freezing for a few hours on really cold days.
If you take a small Gatorade bottle fill it with salt and water… the constant movement and salt will help keep it from freezing. We use it with our lamb water… and it worked great!
Hint #1: Buy two waterers, when the one in use freezes take it inside to thaw out and replace it when the second waterer. This is much faster and your not wasting water. Hint #2: Use a marine grade extenion cord the run to where your heated waterer is located. Hint 2a: Buy a heated waterer with a preset thermostat. Hint 2b: Use a Thermo Cube just before the waterer. It acts like a preset thermostat. Good luck!
I found this rubber bowl to be the absolute best solution as well without electricity. And you can carry a jug out full of water to fill it. My only issue is the bowl flipping and getting water on the wood floor.
my parrot goes in the backyard every day in the winter. i have a couple of usb heated pads inside her wood box. i also have a couple of glassc cans with a 25w bulb inside to for extra heat.
Extremely helpful information. I'm in southwest Washington State and didnt think I'd be dealing with frozen water as much but here we are 23 degrees with windchill of 7. Frozen things everywhere more ice no snow! My 24 chickens thank you.
Put that black bowl in a 15 inch tire. (Car tire) It helps. You can also put insulation like newspaper and other things inside of the tire before putting the bowl In it.
I got a friend who never has given his chickens water in the winter. They just deal with eating snow and what not. Its crazy, but hes had them for over a decade and never had a problem. i.e. no chickens have died from dehydration or appear to have a problem. I don't know how it works. My chickens gorge themselves on water in the winter and I can see they enjoy it.
Several years ago, I had one of those cheap plastic waters. It was winter and I was carrying it from where I filled it up to the chicken coop and because it was plastic and it was cold and brittle it actually broke. The broken handle cut a big old gash in my hand. It was a mess. Never use cheap plastic junk in the winter.
Really appreciate this! I live in Alaska and am starting my first winter with chickens. I also have no electricity where my coop is so your suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.
Mix 3 or 4 cups of sugar per gallon of water, this lowers the feeezing point considerably and if it freezes, the ice formed is very weak & easy to bust up, oftentimes its only a skim. Sugar is energy for the birds diring the rough winters. Ive seen no adverse effects.
I know not all have the ability and this is about without electricity but we have a metal heated platform for our waterer. We keep a small set of solid color Christmas lights on our deck so if the power to that plug goes out we will know. The only time it even started to freeze was when we were negative temps with -35 wind chills but we just personally checked on it those few days several times switching them out. I should get a big rubber one just in case we ever need it because that was super easy.
My first thought that came to mind, but a solar panel and place on south roof of coop and get a heated water bowl. My heated bowl came unplugged and in the morning was completely frozen. I plugged it in and when I checked an hour there was water around the rim that the chickens were drinking and 2.5 hrs later completely thawed. It holds 2 gallons of water. So the solar power will go off at night yes, but will turn back on during the day and thaw it out. Maybe by day break pour a cup or 2 of warm water to get them by until it does so.
If you are going to bring out fresh water or break the ice twice a day..wouldn't it be better to bring the waterer into your house at night. They don't drink at night. Plus, they will drink a half days water the first time they drink in the morning. Bring it back in after they drink (5 mins). Bring it back out before penning them up at night.
Those black stock bowls are the way to go. Have 2 I keep switched out and can put a heater in it. I do not put water in my coop. I dont have bad winters 3-5 days freezing at a time if that.
Myself changes to old metal pans and just smash the ice out and refill with water, I have used plastic bowls over the years but lots of the times the water has frozen to much and if I hit them to hard trying to het the ice out the plastic usually cracks so that’s why I use metal
I put hot I mean hot from the teapot put jar set it in the waterer fill to full , put to bottom back on take it out to coop chickens will drink the warm (hot water) last tell the go to bad repeat in the morning we live in the U. P. we got cold and snow !
That s all I use for my hens and geese is the black water pail , Work great , West Coast of Canada and Seatle U SA are having high winds Ice and snow and low temps,
If you dig a3 to 4 for hole with these rubber bowls on top of it it will never freeze! The earths heat keeps it from freezing but you need to have a rim 3in above the rim of bowl if that makes sense! Most build a box around it with 2x10 sticking up past the bowl rim! Use a plastic covert pipe to line your 4ft deep hole
I use the plastic waterers but have two inside to being out in the am then I bring the frozen ones inside for the following day. I may upgrade to the black bowls eventually.
I don't have electricity to my coop and I used to run an extension cord out there but the electrical bill sky rocketed so I had to come up with something else. I use a rubber tub ( I have 2 to exchange each day) and I fill it up with warm water every day. The chickens have learned to come and drink as soon as I fill it up. Benn doing this for 3 months now since October when nights got cold. It's inside the coop and they seem to be trained and doing well. Sometimes there is frozen water in it when I come out with fresh water and I just give them an clean tub and then smack the ice out of the other. Working well so far.
You should do the in the ground tube method .dig a jole put a tube in insulated put your water bowl on top it'll never freeze with the down below in the ground is warmer than the top you could check it out you tube it
I use a 32 gallon trash can for water with horizontal nipples (do not hold water). whole setup is inside the coop no wind, no freezing and stays cool in the summer water stays clean as well. survived -30 windchill
@@AcresOfAdventure I used to run a long electrical cord from my house to the coop with a heat lamp during the coldest months (before I had underground electricity professionally installed).
Get two of whatever you're using to water keep it smaller and easier to make portable you can bring one inside to warm when you're done taking out the that is not Frozen no wasted trip
After Everybody Gets a Drink Pour Water out of Waterer So next time U Water them U don't Have to Break Ice... I have Racing Pigeons now for 65 Years & this Works for Me...
Thanks for the tips! Will try those forthe sure. The cattle panel run or house with chips or leaves help insulate the bowel underneath and the hoop help slow freezing as well. Appreciate your encouragment!
I honestly just use a metal bowl so I can just set it on my tree and pour a little bit of fresh room temp water on it and the ice will bust off by itself Using PLASTIC bowls it'll bust the bowl because ice expands Using METAL bowls freezing water will warp the metal but not bust it. It also freezes faster because the metal takes to temperatures it's touching faster than anything Using RUBBER bowls very rarely it'll bust it but that's usually due to a manufacturing issue but they don't freeze as fast since rubber is a bit of an insulator I can't use a rubber bowl because my coop is to small and I can't find any smaller than two quarts
God bless. Thanks. Cool idea i saw that im gonna do once the ground thatws is using geothermal heat. 4ft hole, bowl above it. Cheap frame for the bowl. Insulate the frame. Make a food lid for the bowl with inslation foam lined. Saw a dude do it with auccess.
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Make sure to add food coloring into the salt water bottles so if they break or leak it will turn your water color and you can change it!
That’s great! We superglue the cap sometimes to insure a good seal but that would help if the bottle broke anywhere
@@AcresOfAdventure maybe add that in description or pin more ideas?
Wut an awesome idea. Holy cow!! It takes a village!!
Excellent tip!
Great idea
I use those black rubber pans for my chickens for the last 6 year's, another good tip with these rubber pans is that with just a little sun even on a very cold day the sun heats them up and can melt enough for the chickens to get them a drink. I have my chickens come out in to a secure covered run and I place the black rubber pan where the sun will hit it most of the day and even on days in the twenty 's the chickens can drink from it.
Great tip thanks
have been raising chickens in Wisconsin for over twenty five years. If you don't have electric the black rubber hog pans do work great because they don't crack in the cold like you said. I would build some type of container around it and insulate around it. Spray foam or great stuff work well. Also cover half of the top with a piece of plywood or insulated cover.
Thanks we will have to try that around the bowl
And.. if you put that bowl on top of your compost in your feeding coop.. the heat from the compost will keep it from freezing.
A pile of compost under the water bowl was an accidental 'win' for me this Winter. All the other waterers are freezing, not the bowl of water on top of the compost! :)
I seem to be incapable of keeping a hot compost pile. 😞
Great idea we have tried this since and it has been much better!
@K,SodenWhat There's a restaurant where we get 5 gal buckets of spent coffee grounds. Mixed into the compost caffeine speeds the process and generates more warmth. I would be inclined to experiment with putting a lot underneath the coups and sealing the bottom sides with insulation and sheet metal. That heat might come up through the floor and help the coup be warmer.
I thought I knew all the tips and tricks, but even I, an old timer, found another good idea to add to my repertoire! But I need to say, that salt water needs food coloring in it so that you can tell quickly if it's leaked into your clean drinking water. You want to avoid any chance of your chickens drinking saltwater.
The rubber bowl is a exactly what I use :) I empty it at night so it's not full of ice in the morning and then I fill it with fresh water in the am.
I feel like it has to be the best solution if your not using electricity
Best option we ever used were electric dog bowls. Even came with metal guards on the cords and work amazingly well. We have them in the barn, so get electricity. It gets cold enough here that the only real option is some sort of heating element. I liked the idea of items in the dish to keep the water moving though, that's smart!
Yep. It's not fun, but I had to run electric to my main coop after building it this summer and just ran conduit and 12/2 with a GFCI outlet to be able to keep the bantams water from freezing as well. I repeat, it's not fun, but it's worth it instead of trying to get around the problem.
Cool tips. I agree with you on the black rubber bowls, the water freezes slower and much easier to get the big block of ice out of it.
It’s just easier, it’s hard to stop water from freezing during the winter but at least the bowl makes it’s easy to deal with
Also, you can prolong it freezing by taking that rubber bowl and placing it inside an old tire (one that fits snug). Inside the tire add in some of those air pillows, like what is packed in when you order something. We have been doing this for the last few years, and it works great. In Feb. 21 we had real temps in the negatives for two weeks straight. A massive lake froze over for the first time in decades. Only the very surface of the water froze very thin and it didn't take much as at to crack it. We went out three times a day to check.
Now we have Little Giant green electric water bowl. It's a big open water bowl, but we run an extension cord to the house, and it's been doing a great job this winter at keeping the water from freezing.
So far we've had a few days of real temps in the negatives (-9 to -11) with windchills at -35F and wind at 40mph. Thankfully that cold snap is over for this week.
I use the black bowls in winter and the big 5 gallon waterers in spring through fall.
I’ve tried the salt bottle and ping pongs and they don’t seem to work. I just give my hens fresh water from a gallon jug every morning and sometimes again on afternoon. It’s a good time to also do a chicken welfare check to make sure they’re all handling the cold well
This is such a great tip!
Wut an excellent way to repurpose. Awesome idea. Who doesn't have an old tire living in country...just a moratorium on the toilet or old water heater in the front yard. 😳
Cheap used crock pot plugged in on warm from Goodwill store.
Cheaper than heat plate or electric winter chicken waterer.
@@WarriorGnome this sounds like a good idea
In S. Ga/N. Fla it doesn't freeze hard very often, and most days warm enough to thaw our water out.
But one thing I do is to use the large Hot Hands pocket warmers.
If you can duct tape it to the bottom, the heat rises to the water mass.
They're good for about 12 hrs, which is enough to make it until daylight and it warms up.
I wish there were more solar options for these types of things. It seems logical that farmers and other folks would lack access to electricity further from their home so it would be cool if brands could start integrating more solar power options. Heaters, warmers, pumps, etc would make so much sense. We have hotwire fencing and lights readily available with solar, I hope more products follow suit in the near future.
I agree, this would be an awesome tool for off grid homesteader's.
The problem is that heating requires a boat load of electricity. You could definitely put a solar array up that would do it, it just might be a bit of a big eyesore. I'm sure they'll become available when the solar tech catches up!
Keep in mind in Michigan, like Canada, you can go 3 weeks without seeing the sun. When the sun does come out it is low in the sky therefore the power is diffused by more atmosphere that the light travels through. Solar isn't a good option for northern latitudes.
YES! Solar, or wind powered… maybe a hybrid system? Would be super nice to have.
Even something with a stick that moves around to keep the water moving.. that would require less power than heat production and would prevent the water from freezing. Or at least keep it from freezing nearly as fast anyway.
You can also set those rubber tubs on dark colored garden paving stones. The dark colored garden papers will absorb heat all day, then radiate it back through the night.
Thanks Brenda, that sounds like a great tip!
It will help but when the Temps remain below freezing more than a couple of days, expect there will be ice & lots of it. I'm in NW Florida, so we don't see weeks of single digit temperature weather. I'd be looking into insulating the waterers... maybe recycling an old ice chest laid on its side, facing the sun & put the water bowl inside?
We've had chickens for years... If there is powder snow, we just let them eat the snow. Learned that from an old timer and it works great.
Thank you, I figured they would eat snow if they need to
Excellent!
With the shhhhstuff being sprayed in the sky you should not let the chickens eat if you can help it! Do you know what Chemtrails are?
Not eat snow!!!
Hi use a large wide rubber bowl. I also have a electric dog bowl but I haven't plugged it in yet. Remember, you only need to keep the water thawed during the day. Dump it out at night and fill it back up in the morning. That will make less work for yourself if you don't have electricity out there.
That is true, thanks!
I hate like hell to burst your bubble but, salt water does freeze ! I have 10 salt water bottles in my freezer & use them in summer in my cooler to keep everything cold ! Also, salt water frozen is colder than just plain water. If you bring your water ears inside at night you have no problems with freezing! Ok a lil more miner work but when the temp goes down to -60 your water isn’t frozen when you bring it out to your chickens. I’m in Montana & yes it gets down to -60 sometimes. You can go to solar panels but that’s a lot of work with snow & batteries. Just bring them indoors over night.
Freezes slower
I gave the video a "like" because the main idea is good. The idea with floaters is ok, too. It won't really slow down the freezing, but will keep access to the unfrozen water longer. But the idea of a salted water bottle somehow delaying the overall process is nonsense - it contradicts basic physics. Salt water doesn't freeze (it does, just at lower temps), but it will still get colder than freezing, so it doesn't prevent the outside water from cooling down and freezing. You'd be better off filling a plastic bottle with HOT water, then it'll act as a heat source, at least until the temps equalize.
I have used the black tub and salt water bottle for years, and have good luck here in our cold Maine winters. I have suggested it to several chicken friends, and they have been happy with the results too.
Great idea with the salt! We add apple cider vinegar to our water it changes the freezing point and helps with parasites. We also make a sleeve of the foil bubble wrap insulation we have had -0 temps and just slush in the plastic waters we do switch to the rubber bowels when our temps stay cold for extended periods. Thanks
Great tip! People should put ACV in their animals water it has great benefits
On top of using rubber bowls, I always spray mine with Pam cooking spray or rub it down olive oil after cleaning them in the winter time. They'll still freeze in my area every night but the ice will pour right out 90% of the time
That sounds awesome! Do you fear that the Pam is bad for them at all?
@@AcresOfAdventure No not at all, Pam is mostly canola oil, coconut oil, palm oil and soybean extracts. I'm sure that there's other things in it but it doesn't mix in with the water at all and hasn't bothered them what so ever. Been doing it for years with zero effects.
Thanks!
One other thing that I have learned through trial and error. The more water that is in the bowl, the harder it is to get out. Each chicken has their own bowl (inside of their community pen, given that space allows) so that they aren't competing for bowl time with other semi territorial chickens. I also put each bowl on its own pirch pedestal to keep their water clean from dirt and bedding when they're scratching around. So I only put about 2 to 2 1/2 inches of water in each bowl, again through trial and error each bird has about 3 to 4 hours of drinking time before freezing in the coldest times of the year. Didn't mean to write a book but hopefully it can help someone out. Thanx
I once saw a video from Canada. The chicken had no more water but were „eating“ the snow. Thank you fir your video.
The power of true nature, animals will find a way to survive
What if you try filling a thermos with boiling water then seal it up tight and drop it in your chicken drinker. Perhaps the small about of heat seaping out through the walls will help keep the water from freezing just a little longer.
I use 2 insulated nipple waters, place them in a large shallow pan or use a plastic oil pan so the water doesn't get the coop floor wet. Put them inside the chicken coop, fill with warm water, on really cold days change out about 1/2 way through the day, take frozen one inside to thaw out. In summer I freeze bowls of water and put in them to keep water cold.
The nipples do not freeze though and break?
@@AcresOfAdventure not in the past 3 years NE Missouri, had -35 wind chills last week, water froze solid, still ok.
Those black rubber tubs are what I use in the winter but we have had such a cold snap of winter right now and I can't even get the ice out in the morning to put fresh warm water in. I end up pouring hot water over the top of the ice about an inch or so. The chickens can still drink it even though it is only an inch of water over ice.
Turn them over and hit the bottom with a hammer.
If you pour hot water over the bottom of it you can pop it out.
Pick it up and slam it on the ground that’s what I do it works
I'm in mid Michigan, many days that never get above 20°. I use a 15 watt light bulb under a waterer. Held up with a 4 inch tall 8 inch dia stove pipe. I have experienced a light skim ice at the very top inside the water container, when I go to refill it, it melts when you add more water. The bulb and socket just lie on the floor, which is concrete. If your floor is wood a 12 inch ceramic tile could be uses to insulate the wood from burning.
The salt water idea sounds good on paper but in reality the temperature in that bottle matches the surrounding temperatures. The fresh water will freeze at 32f and the salt will freeze at 28f. The salt simply prevents water molecules from bonding until lower temperatures. It does not have a heating affect to the surrounding area.
You can also put the rubber water bowl into a tire (that you took the tube out if it had one) and stuff the inside and underneath with straw and then put your bowl, into the tire, surrounded by the straw. Make sure you have enough under the tire to keep if off the cold ground! It should insulate the bowl enough to keep it liquid for a good while.
I would suggest the bowl as well. More work refilling daily but very useful. Great suggestions with the bottle of salt water and moving objects. I'm definitely going to try this! Thanks!
I've been using the rubber bowls for years. I got mine at Walmart in the pet supplies by pet bowls. They were cheap too. I use the huge one for water takes longer to freeze. The smaller for the food and scratch.
They work great Vicki your right!
Great ideas, especially for someone just getting started with chickens and homesteading.
Glad it was helpful!
The big rubberized flat feed and water bowls work best. Empty it each evening. Fill it in the morning refill twice a day. Plastic water bottle filled with salt water works good to keep from freezing as fast.
We live in Indiana and ran power to the chicken coop for lighting, ceramic heating bulbs, and a bird bath water heater, placed in a 5 gallon bucket with watering nipples It only 25 watts and works perfect.
The light helps in winter egg laying, the heating bulbs were essential for the recent cold blast, and the heated water bucket worked great 👍 Great video and information
Michigan here too. And we have come up to the same exact conclusion you have. Using the same waterers.
I thought the cups were going to work this winter. I have a heater in the bucket. But the cups still freeze even though the water in the bucket stays liquid with the heater. Temperatures are just too cold for the lukewarm water in the cups to stay liquid very long.
I love the cups for any other weather but just doesn’t seem to work for the cold weather
These comments are the best ...so many great tips thank you all!
Glad you like them!
We're in northern Sweden, our hens are kept indoors all winter but even so, in our unheated building for them, the water bowls freeze within an hour. This is helpful because I'm constantly having to break or refresh the water for the chickens. Already lost two containers as they burst with the expanding ice.
PS minus thirty Celsius here at the moment.
An insulated top would be the most effective. With a hole just big enough for a chicken to get a drink. An old cooler would take quite a while to freeze.
Love the bowl idea. The only thing I would add would be hot water to extend the length of time before freezing. Especially at night.
Perfect idea! Thanks
I know this hard to believe but hot water freezes at the same rate as cold water.
It may take a minute longer to freeze, but the chickens don't want to drink hot water. I want them to have a cool refreshing drink to their hearts content before it freezes
@@pizzaguy3645 actually hot water freezes faster than cold water, but I assume that its different if its hot water in an insulated box outside in the freezing cold
I was under the impression that chickens dont drink or eat at night because they have very poor vision in the dark. They roost and sleep, that's it. I've never worried about their water freezing at night. Most chicken keepers I know close their birds up for the night with no access to the outdoors.
I've been using the black rubber bowls for a few years now I had extra cuz I also use them for feeding my horses grain. Love them.
They have many great purposes!
Do you know about the Compost and bucket trick? bury a bucket in the ground with Chicken Manure around it and under it as you back fill. Manure composting heat keeps the water from freezing.
I have heard about it after posting this, we have been trying it and it seems to work well
@@AcresOfAdventure the tire was a great idea, I won't be trying it as I am just 45 days away from moving to Florida.
I work at Tractor Supply and we definitely sell those rubber bowls like crazy and they come in so many different sizes.
Thanks for the tip!
@@AcresOfAdventure you're welcome
Keep a good portion of the water surface covered with maybe rigid insulation to prevent heat loss from convection and heat loss caused by evaporation. Place the rubber bowl in a rigid insulation diy box. You basically put the bowl in an insulated cooler to help reduce the cooling effect to the surroundings.
My father in law would take a galvanized bucket, cut a hole in the side toward the bottom just big enough to fit the cord through, use a drop light and a metal mixing bowl that fits the rim of the bucket, works great.
The newer light bulbs that feel like plastic don’t give off heat, use the glass bulbs, I found this out trying to keep chicks warm.
We seen videos where they it that bowl in a tire with spray foam under it for chickens and 5 gallon buckets in a box with spray foam all around the bucket and a board with a hole in it for the goats to get to the unfrozen water.
Yours is an amazing idea too!
Thanks!
Thank for this video 🙌🏻 We were “gifted” our 4 Easter Eggers and chicken coop in July 2023…so to say I am a newbie is sooooo accurate. I have been researching and modifying almost every day. Got the automatic door 🎉 and finally got the chickens using the auto feeder 🍾. Now I’m working on the water for this coming NJ winter. Weather here is VERY schizophrenic especially since we live in a low lying area, so we can be warm 🥵or COLD🥶. I think I’m going with your suggestion since I don’t have electricity in the chicken area.
Have definitely subscribed to your channel and check in frequently 👍🏻
PS ❤️ the Bears gear. Dad was a diehard Bears fan since we’re originally from Illinois.
For Winter our number 1 choice is to use heavy duty outdoor rated extension cords. Cut a small hole in the upper wall of your coop. Thread the extension cord thru the hole, attach a Thermocube. Then use an electric heated waterer.. I place it in a corner of the coop where I can easily check it and remove for cleaning and filling. Do NOT place it where perching chickens can poop in it. Another easy option is to have at least 2 black rubber bowls and keep swapping them out. Unbreakable!
Awesome tips. I've been struggling with the frozen water situation. This is my first year raising chickens. I'm in Ohio so not too far away. That 2 day wind and snow storm was tough on the chickies. Dealing with little bit of frostbite on their combs. Got some vaseline on em today. Lol I can go on about chickens all day lol
Take care and subbed!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I had the same stress, first year chicken gal and mine were so unfazed at -19! Electric water heater was awesome but all the other gizmos failed.
@@gaylecorwin3460 It's amazing how unaffected these birds are! And through the bitter cold I still getting 4 eggs a day from my 6 chickies. Yesterday I used 6 eggs for an omelette just trying to use em up! I had no intention in selling eggs but simply can't keep up with production lol. I have a few dozen on hand now at all times.
What breed of chickies do you have Gayle? Mine are Barred Plymouth Rock.
Very positive video. Love the words at the end! Warm compost under the water bowl seems be working for me. Accidental 'find' but very useful.
Great ideas . I will use salt water bottle to start..
Thanks for that tip! That sounds very useful
@@nilasspasov8417 In the comments (or replies) l saw a suggestion & that adding a little food coloring in your salted water container so you can tell just if it ever leaks. You’ll know immediately & can put in a new salt water container while changing the water in the bowl to fresh water. GOOD LUCK‼️
@@Sunnytrailrunner Thank you for more ideas . Together we can do better and better . Thank you!!!
What we do in the winter with the water feeder we take it indoors and put warm water on it for about five minutes. Let it Thor out and take it back to the coop.❤❤
Take care with roosters. I used a bowl with a water bottle full of salt water. It worked great but my roosters would get their waddles wet when they drank and then they got frostbite.
Thanks I haven’t thought about that
Thank you!!! I’ve been dealing with the same situation! No electricity and frozen plastic waterers! I have a black tub in now and am going to try the salt water bottle!!!
Of course, hope it helps you out!
Have you tried the geothermal option? Where you dig a hole below freeze line, insert plastic drain pipe( keeps hole from collapsing. Then build a box with holed top to set you black rubber waterer in. Set top box over the hole setting it into the ground with only 2 or so inches showing, line box with straw but don't cover hole. Back fill around box. You can also paint box black for warm from sun. Place rubber water bowl in box hole.
I've not tried it but heard it works.
I use 5 gallon bucket with nipple waterers on the sides for 12 chickens. If the temp drops below freezing I add the tractor supply electric bucket water heater. Never had the nipples freeze up on me.
Water stays clean and only need to fill it once a week.
Thank you for this information! I live in Western PA United States and I'm constantly going out and checking waterers because they freeze. I paused your video and went out with a salt water bottle. I need 2 more but since we don't drink pop or bottled water I'll have to scrounge to them from someone. Have a great new year and stay warm. 💚
Thank you! Stay warm also and I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
Putting things in the Black Bowl is Brilliant! First I have heard of this Technique Well Done!!
We are in MI as well! This winter has been really harsh! Some of my chickens suffered from frostbite due to the humidity in their coop but they’re still ticking thankfully.
Dig a hole the size of a car tire. Fill with compost or just wood chips/straw. Hollow out the middle of it. Insert bowl. Water will stay liquid at least 3x longer.
They have heating elements that are 200 watt also 200 watt solar panels
We live up in Canada. I used the smaller version of the first waterer and I boiled a quart of water in a jar and put it inside of it and that would keep it from freezing for a few hours on really cold days.
If you take a small Gatorade bottle fill it with salt and water… the constant movement and salt will help keep it from freezing. We use it with our lamb water… and it worked great!
We have been using those black rubber pans for chickens and other animals year round for many years. Best thing we have found for winter.
Hint #1: Buy two waterers, when the one in use freezes take it inside to thaw out and replace it when the second waterer. This is much faster and your not wasting water.
Hint #2: Use a marine grade extenion cord the run to where your heated waterer is located.
Hint 2a: Buy a heated waterer with a preset thermostat.
Hint 2b: Use a Thermo Cube just before the waterer. It acts like a preset thermostat.
Good luck!
Great ideas!
I found this rubber bowl to be the absolute best solution as well without electricity. And you can carry a jug out full of water to fill it. My only issue is the bowl flipping and getting water on the wood floor.
Yes, most of the time we keep water outside but if it’s in coop just use a big bowl so it’s heavy and can’t flip easy
I will definitely try this the next time we have a freeze! It was horrible last week all of my animals had frozen water terrible.
my parrot goes in the backyard every day in the winter. i have a couple of usb heated pads inside her wood box. i also have a couple of glassc cans with a 25w bulb inside to for extra heat.
Extremely helpful information. I'm in southwest Washington State and didnt think I'd be dealing with frozen water as much but here we are 23 degrees with windchill of 7. Frozen things everywhere more ice no snow! My 24 chickens thank you.
I hope this works great for your chickens!
Put that black bowl in a 15 inch tire. (Car tire) It helps. You can also put insulation like newspaper and other things inside of the tire before putting the bowl In it.
I got a friend who never has given his chickens water in the winter. They just deal with eating snow and what not. Its crazy, but hes had them for over a decade and never had a problem. i.e. no chickens have died from dehydration or appear to have a problem. I don't know how it works. My chickens gorge themselves on water in the winter and I can see they enjoy it.
The rubber bowls work great, it's what we used once freezing temps arrive.
Same here David!
The best thing that i have found for wenter watering is small ice chest! Like those used for work lunch buckets!!
Several years ago, I had one of those cheap plastic waters. It was winter and I was carrying it from where I filled it up to the chicken coop and because it was plastic and it was cold and brittle it actually broke. The broken handle cut a big old gash in my hand. It was a mess. Never use cheap plastic junk in the winter.
Really appreciate this! I live in Alaska and am starting my first winter with chickens. I also have no electricity where my coop is so your suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.
Mix 3 or 4 cups of sugar per gallon of water, this lowers the feeezing point considerably and if it freezes, the ice formed is very weak & easy to bust up, oftentimes its only a skim.
Sugar is energy for the birds diring the rough winters. Ive seen no adverse effects.
I know not all have the ability and this is about without electricity but we have a metal heated platform for our waterer. We keep a small set of solid color Christmas lights on our deck so if the power to that plug goes out we will know. The only time it even started to freeze was when we were negative temps with -35 wind chills but we just personally checked on it those few days several times switching them out.
I should get a big rubber one just in case we ever need it because that was super easy.
If you have it,use it!
My first thought that came to mind, but a solar panel and place on south roof of coop and get a heated water bowl.
My heated bowl came unplugged and in the morning was completely frozen. I plugged it in and when I checked an hour there was water around the rim that the chickens were drinking and 2.5 hrs later completely thawed. It holds 2 gallons of water.
So the solar power will go off at night yes, but will turn back on during the day and thaw it out. Maybe by day break pour a cup or 2 of warm water to get them by until it does so.
Great tips! I had no idea you could just put stuff on top to float and that would help!
If you are going to bring out fresh water or break the ice twice a day..wouldn't it be better to bring the waterer into your house at night. They don't drink at night. Plus, they will drink a half days water the first time they drink in the morning. Bring it back in after they drink (5 mins). Bring it back out before penning them up at night.
Those black stock bowls are the way to go. Have 2 I keep switched out and can put a heater in it. I do not put water in my coop. I dont have bad winters 3-5 days freezing at a time if that.
Myself changes to old metal pans and just smash the ice out and refill with water, I have used plastic bowls over the years but lots of the times the water has frozen to much and if I hit them to hard trying to het the ice out the plastic usually cracks so that’s why I use metal
Light on the coop, you have power. Get a submersible heater and plug it into a Thermocube to turn on when necessary
Hot hands body warmers taped to the bottom and sides of it , last over 16 hrs, never froze, our windchill here in memphis got to -16!
That is super smart! Thanks for the help
I put hot I mean hot from the teapot put jar set it in the waterer fill to full , put to bottom back on take it out to coop chickens will drink the warm (hot water) last tell the go to bad repeat in the morning we live in the U. P. we got cold and snow !
Ty for the tips my chickens will play with the bottle on top of bowl but it will work this winter for us ty for sharing❤❤
That s all I use for my hens and geese is the black water pail , Work great , West Coast of Canada and Seatle U SA are having high winds Ice and snow and low temps,
Yes they work great for livestock animals
I bring waterer in at night... and swap when I gather eggs a couple times a day before the eggs freeze.
That always works too
If you dig a3 to 4 for hole with these rubber bowls on top of it it will never freeze! The earths heat keeps it from freezing but you need to have a rim 3in above the rim of bowl if that makes sense! Most build a box around it with 2x10 sticking up past the bowl rim! Use a plastic covert pipe to line your 4ft deep hole
Great tip!
I use the plastic waterers but have two inside to being out in the am then I bring the frozen ones inside for the following day.
I may upgrade to the black bowls eventually.
Greats tips! I’m near Lansing and it’s been coming down for almost an hour now. Stay safe my friend!
Thanks! You too! I hope you guys stayed safe during the storm!
I don't have electricity to my coop and I used to run an extension cord out there but the electrical bill sky rocketed so I had to come up with something else. I use a rubber tub ( I have 2 to exchange each day) and I fill it up with warm water every day. The chickens have learned to come and drink as soon as I fill it up. Benn doing this for 3 months now since October when nights got cold. It's inside the coop and they seem to be trained and doing well. Sometimes there is frozen water in it when I come out with fresh water and I just give them an clean tub and then smack the ice out of the other. Working well so far.
Sounds like you are doing a good job!
In Indiana in the 70's we used to heat water on the stove for our chickens every winter. We didn't mind doing it.
How about filling a water bottle with hot water 3/4 way then put it into the water? This could extend the time between changing it.
You should do the in the ground tube method .dig a jole put a tube in insulated put your water bowl on top it'll never freeze with the down below in the ground is warmer than the top you could check it out you tube it
Yes, we use buckets as well.
I use a 32 gallon trash can for water with horizontal nipples (do not hold water). whole setup is inside the coop no wind, no freezing and stays cool in the summer water stays clean as well. survived -30 windchill
Wow! That's awesome! How did yoy make it so the nipples didn't freeze?
The nipples doing freeze?
Any links with examples?
Thanks! For this tip. I do use the black feed bowls in the Winter for water, but I had no idea about the salt water in a bottle. Thank again.
Place the black rubber bowl inside a tire that you first place some sort of insulating material in side the tire.
Heated dog bowl on a timer. I only have mine on 15 minutes every hour.
It has to be battery operated if there is no electrical supply.
That would work good but it would take a lot of work to get electricity out to our coop area
@@AcresOfAdventure I used to run a long electrical cord from my house to the coop with a heat lamp during the coldest months (before I had underground electricity professionally installed).
Mabe ha ve an additional idea. Use a solar water agitator that they use for bird baths. Or get one that operates on batteries?
Get two of whatever you're using to water keep it smaller and easier to make portable you can bring one inside to warm when you're done taking out the that is not Frozen no wasted trip
That is a great way to do it
After Everybody Gets a Drink Pour Water out of Waterer So next time U Water them U don't Have to Break Ice... I have Racing Pigeons now for 65 Years & this Works for Me...
Thank you for that tip
I built a soapstone heater box for the water bowl for winter.
Thanks for the tips! Will try those forthe sure. The cattle panel run or house with chips or leaves help insulate the bowel underneath and the hoop help slow freezing as well.
Appreciate your encouragment!
I honestly just use a metal bowl so I can just set it on my tree and pour a little bit of fresh room temp water on it and the ice will bust off by itself
Using PLASTIC bowls it'll bust the bowl because ice expands
Using METAL bowls freezing water will warp the metal but not bust it. It also freezes faster because the metal takes to temperatures it's touching faster than anything
Using RUBBER bowls very rarely it'll bust it but that's usually due to a manufacturing issue but they don't freeze as fast since rubber is a bit of an insulator
I can't use a rubber bowl because my coop is to small and I can't find any smaller than two quarts
Great break down, thank you!
God bless. Thanks. Cool idea i saw that im gonna do once the ground thatws is using geothermal heat. 4ft hole, bowl above it. Cheap frame for the bowl. Insulate the frame. Make a food lid for the bowl with inslation foam lined. Saw a dude do it with auccess.