Frozen Drinker!!

[shadegrow]

We have a gallon drinker inside the coop. Past 2 mornings it has been frozen. chooks seem warm enough though still eating & none puffed up.
Is there anything I can add to the water to stop it freezing?
I am putting Battles tonic in it (red stuff) is this helping it to freeze?
Thanks

[vicky]

Same with mine, I just defrost it in the morning with a kettle of water.

[MaureenHall]

Yep, kettle of hot water, that's about all I'd add. Make sure the water's fresh each day though, it can get a bit gungy when they drink just after eating, the food bits on their beaks go into the water and foul it

[Hilary B]

Clean water actually freezes more readily than dirty water (hence clean swimming pools freezing while muddy duck ponds don't). Not so sure about other 'additives'. Cider Vinegar is worth considering (can't hurt, but I suspect it would take a LOT to change freezability, so probably won't help either).

[Snadger]

I put a container of water INSIDE the coop with a floating tennis ball in it! Seems to stop it freezing completely and is there only supply of water until I get there and break the ice on the outdoor feeders. They usually empty the dish so i know it helps.

*have visions of arriving one day and one of the chooks will have a rather large Adams apple..........*

[-pat m]

Although I am getting to work a little later due to my chosen process - I take fresh water every morning and put it in the sunniest/warmest place I can find which is in the poly tunnel at the moment, My girls are very greedy but they all huddle around the water first thing so I am thinking they really do appreciate it
Regards
Pat