keeping water unfrozen

[tlck9]

I've really struggling, having the chucks up the allotment I cant check on them during the day while I am at work.

I've been putting 3/4 lots of water out and by the time I get back its frozen again

Has anyone experiemented with solar fountains? I was thinking of putting one in a water bowl and have it dribble rather than a hige fountain

I tried oil in the water last year, but it was a right pain cleaning the water containers

[polo]

I was having a look at this because I worry their water will freeze when I'm at work.

It hasn't yet becasue it tucked just inside the old greenhouse. Could you put it inside somewhere?

Also considered buying a microwavable heat pad but I dont know how effective they are retaining heat over a long period outdoors although they say they will stay at 52 degrees C for 12 hours. If you put 'microwavable heat pad' into amazon one will pop up.

Interested to see what everyone else does..

Polo

[RichmondHens]

I bashed the ice out of my drinking buckets three times today and each time they refroze within an hour. In the end I decided the chooks could just eat snow. As long as they have access to something that will provide moisture they will be OK. You can get little battery powered heat pads I believe that attach to buckets/drinkers but I've never tried them so can't comment on how effective they are.

[tlck9]

Even in my shed, my spares have frozen solid, we are in Cornwall but the wind chill here is really bad - if the wind dropped I dont think it would be as bad.

We dont have snow, so its really difficult.

I will check out the microwave pads, I'm sure someone on here has constructed some ingenius idea that we will all drool over

[Creemteez]

When I was a child my brother and I used to try and construct heating devices to keep water for wild birds from freezing using an upturned clay flower pot with a candle underneath it and another clay or metal dish of water on top.
The trick was to find a way of allowing enough air to get under the pot so that the flame stayed alight, but not so much that it blew out. We used to try to achieve this by propping the bottom of the base pot up on stones (could try using those "pot feet").
There also has to be a gap between the base pot and the water dish.
I know that there could be issues with fire safety within a chicken run (we only used to put it in the open garden), but maybe it's an idea that you could re-jig somehow...

[binley100]

I was talking to someone tonight who puts a some cider vinegar and a couple of balls in the water containers and say that that seems to work..

[jimred]

I run out my extension lead plug in my mini propagator (which is water proof) turn it upside down and put the drinker on it, work great, the girls all try to stand on the edge of the propagator keeping their feet warm!

[Suechooks]

I've wondered about investing in some galvanised drinkers and putting one of those little tealights under it somehow. Have an old one at the lottie so will give it a go and post back as soon as I can get it out of the frozen ground! Currently I'm going up there 3 times a day and defrosting it. Easy for me as I'm retired.

[Two_Sheds]

They don't drink as much when its cold. My guinea pigs are outside all winter, and I give them salad, esp. cucumber which gives them water. It's easier than trying to keep their water bottle thawed.

You could bring their water in at night so you don't have to thaw it in the morning?

[lettucegrow!]

We used to put glycerine in the water bottles of our bunnies years ago but I don't know what quantity is safe. Will investigate.

[OverWyreGrower]

I was talking to someone tonight who puts a some cider vinegar and a couple of balls in the water containers and say that that seems to work..

We've tried using balls in the water, and it's so cold that the water just freezes with the balls in it.

Apparantly ACV does keep the water a few degrees higher etc, althoug since we've been about -4 or -5 every day, we're not getting above freezing, so I'm not sure how it would work in practice.

[Bigmallly]

I don't keep chucks so am no expert but what about putting a table tennis ball in the water, I believe this helps to stop the water from freezing. I must admit, I've never tried it, only heard it somewhere.

[Glutton4...]

I don't keep chucks so am no expert but what about putting a table tennis ball in the water, I believe this helps to stop the water from freezing. I must admit, I've never tried it, only heard it somewhere.

It works on bigger troughs, especially if it is windy, as the ball keeps moving. However, with smaller containers, and in sheltered spaces (like Chook Runs) it doesn't seem to work. I go round with a wooden pole and bash the ice, or use my foot if the container is large enough. Most of the time the Geese keep the tops open.

[Snadger]

Toyed with the idea of putting an extra water supply INSIDE the coop? The chooks I have in the greenhouse don't have frozen water......well just a thin covering of ice, easily peckable!

[Scarlet]

We've tried using balls in the water, and it's so cold that the water just freezes with the balls in it.

Apparantly ACV does keep the water a few degrees higher etc, althoug since we've been about -4 or -5 every day, we're not getting above freezing, so I'm not sure how it would work in practice.

I use ACV in the cold weather and it usually does work but you're right, it's not been much use this week!