7 Ways to Prevent Chicken Water from Freezing | Boreal Bloom Homestead (2024)

Do you have difficulty keeping your chickens' water drinkable during winter frost? Discover practical solutions in this guide to ensure your flock stays hydrated no matter how cold it gets.

Winter is a time of beauty, but it can also be a time of challenges – especially in the world of chicken keeping. When the mercury drops below freezing, maintaining the well-being of your flock becomes a whole new game.

One of the biggest challenges is undoubtedly ensuring that your chickens always have access to a freshwater source. Picture this: You wake up on a frigid morning, put on your warmest clothes and trudge to the chicken coop, only to find that their water supply has turned into a block of ice. Chickens aren't fans of ice-cold drinks, and they certainly can't peck through a frozen surface to quench their thirst.

And it's not just about hydration. Water plays a crucial role in athe chicken's digestionand egg production. So it is imperative to ensure that they have fresh drinking water despite the freezing temperatures. But don't worry, although it is a challenge, it is certainly not impossible.

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Warnings about winter water

If you live in a cold climate, it may seem like a smart move to place water bowls in the coop to keep them from freezing. It's warmer there, isn't it? On the surface this idea makes sense, but it can actually create a whole new set of problems.

Water in the cup increases relative humidity. And in an enclosed space like a house, excess moisture can be a major problem, potentially leading to breathing problems in your chickens or even frostbite. Yes, frostbite!

Although it may seem counterintuitive, high humidity in cold weather can increase the likelihood that your chickens' combs, combs and toes will suffer.frostbite.

Chickens also drink the crap. They love to splash and spill water, which is also possiblecage wastewet. Wet ground cover is not only a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, but it also loses its insulating properties and increases humidity, making your home colder.

While it may be tempting to water your home in the winter, it is important to avoid the problems associated with indoor irrigation. Don't worry, there are alternative solutions to ensure your flock has access to fresh water, even in freezing temperatures.

With or without electricity?

There are both on- and off-grid options when it comes to preventing water freezing. Which option you choose will depend greatly on the challenges you face in your chicken coop; there is no one-size-fits-all option.

In general, the trade-off between using something that requires electricity and a non-electric option is that electricity costs more money, while off-grid requires more physical work.

If you live in an area where winters are very cold, like we do here in northern Alberta, you will have to battle frozen streams all winter long unless you get power. If you choose to prevent water from freezing in a cold climate without electricity, be sure to bring fresh water to your home several times a day.

Prevents water from freezing without electricity

These optionsomissionprevent freezing of water containers in cold climates. They can slow the freezing of water in cold weather and stop it altogether when winter weather is mild.

Rubber food bowl

One of the most recommended winter waterers for chickens isrubber tubs. These large, black rubber pans are easy to come by and available at any local pet food store.

The great thing about rubber is that it is a good insulator, so even if there is no power going to this tub, the material itself helps insulate the water from the cold ground and surrounding air. The larger surface area of ​​an open food bowl also helps to slow the freezing rate. Keeping the black barrel in a place where it can absorb heat from the sun can improve the effectiveness of this method.

The great thing about this option is that if the water in the feeder freezes, you can easily turn the tub over and drop the ice puck out. You also don't have to worry about the rubber becoming brittle and cracking in cold weather.

Table tennis balls

Float a few ping pong balls or other hollow balls along the surface of your water bowl - double this with the rubber food bowl for best results.

The theory behind this is that the floating balls disrupt the surface tension of the water and prevent freezing. The chicks will likely peck at it, moving them around the water bowl and breaking any ice crystals.

While this will work, it is best in weather around freezing. When it is cold and the water freezes, the balls freeze in the water.

Check out oursWinter Coop Tour YouTube-videofor more information on how we winterize our chickens and keep them comfortable during the winter.

Saltwater bottle

This trick is often used with horses – and works like table tennis balls – provided the weather is mild.

The way to use salt water is to fill a plastic water bottle with about half a cup of cheap salt, pour hot water over it, cap it, shake it to dissolve the salt and let it float in the water tank . I haven't personally tried this method, but again, it can help prevent frostbiteIFthe temperature barely falls below freezing.

More advice on keeping chickens

Prevents water from freezing with electricity

Unfortunately for me, once we get into late October/early November, the plastic bells are put away for the season and the chicken coop is plugged in, giving me quick and easy access to electricity so we can run a boiler.

If you are in a cold climate, these motorized options are probably your best choice.

Heated bottoms

There isheated bottomsavailable for galvanized watering cans, these work by heating the bottom of the container and keeping the water frozen. These heated bases work best at temperatures of -12 degrees Celsius and above.

This option is not sustainable for us as we regularly reach -40f (-40c) in winter.

Heated water bells

Heated water bellsis another way to provide your birds with fresh drinking water during the winter months. This option is slightly hardier - works down to 0f (-18c) - again not a good option for us.

The downside to these walkers is that they need to be taken apart to be refilled and then turned over, and while I don't mind splashing a little water on myself in the warmer months, I prefer to avoid it when it's really cold is!

Another problem with this option is that if the weather gets too cold and the entire water tank freezes, it can easily crack and become damaged by the expanding ice.

Heated nipple irrigators

My chickens are not nipple trained, but if yours are, this may be a good option for you. I have a friend who usesheated nipple irrigatorsall winter without any problems, and because it fills from the top it is easy to handle.

That said, I can't find a temperature rating for theses and I would hesitate to use them in too cold weather.

Heated dog bowls

This is the option we chose.Heated dog waterplates are easy to fill, easy to see the water level and have never frozen on us - despite -40f (-40c) weather.

We used 2-1.5 gallon heated waterers for our flock of 24 chickens last winter and the water lasted two to three days.

We built a small frame for the water bowls to keep the chicks from standing on the edge and falling over, but they lasted six months without a hitch.

Thoughts from the farm

There are a number of ways to prevent your chickens' water from freezing during the cold winter months. Depending on your climate and access to electricity, different solutions will be more or less feasible. Whether you choose an option that requires electricity or one that is completely turned off, make sure you research and understand the risks of each option before making a decision. This ensures that your chickens have access to fresh, unfrozen water all winter long.

Most importantly, understand why it is important to prevent chicken water from freezing in the first place. If you plan ahead and choose the best solution for your climate, you can create a safe and healthy environment for your feathers. friends all year round.

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