water tubs

[annaradiog]

I will be away from the chooks for a couple of days over christmas but with the frosty mornings, the chicken's water tubs have been freezing over. Does anybody have any advise on to prevent their water from freezing while I'm away for the 2 days?

Anna

[yoanbob]

have you tried a spoon of cider vinegar?

[annaradiog]

No I haven't, does that work, I've never heard of that before, I shall give that a go.

[yoanbob]

I dont know if it does work, we used to put it in their water anyway we never had frozen water, but it was allways inside the shed, just thought it might

[kirsty b]

I'll have to try that. Have brought one water trough inside, but still found it frozen t'other day.

[Birdie Wife]

If you float a tennis ball in a pond it's supposed to stop the ice freezing over. Don't know what sort of tubs you have but it might work.

[Sue]

Hi
I read on another forum that gylcerine (v cheap and available from the chemist) will keep water from freezing. I drizzle this in the moat of the water dispenser. On the day when the ice in the waterbutt was 1 1/2" thick the hen's water only had a partial thin layer of ice and there was enough ice-free water for them to drink.
best wishes
Sue

[annaradiog]

that sounds good too, I shall do some experimenting!!! Thanks everyone

[jonny_s_p]

Vodka freezes at about -30'C, so vodka and tonics for the chooks might work. If not it'll be very funny watching them in the garden.

Jonny

[Sue]

Hi
Have to report a failure on the glycerine front, it had been working well but the recent two exceedingly cold days meant that the ice on the hen's water froze again - so it obviously has a limit.
Sue

[Snadger]

Vodka freezes at about -30'C, so vodka and tonics for the chooks might work. If not it'll be very funny watching them in the garden.

Jonny

And interesting eating your breakfast egg!