7 Tips To Prevent Chicken Water From Freezing
If you live in a cold climate that experiences harsh winters you may be wondering how to provide your chickens with fresh water during the coldest parts of the winter season. Proper housing, adequate nutrition, and adequate hydration are all essential to supporting your flock’s health during the harsh winter months as well as all year long. The following are tips with and without electricity to help keep your chicken’s water from freezing. You can provide your chickens with warm water during the winter months. How do you know if it is too warm to be safe? If you can’t hold your hand inside the water, then it is too dangerously hot to serve to your chickens. If you’re using warm water aim for a temperature close to lukewarm water. No technique to keep water from freezing will work 100% or in every circumstance, every time. Important note: even with electricity, it is important to monitor your chicken’s water daily to ensure it does not freeze during the winter. The most important and reliable tool to keep your chicken’s water from freezing is your own observation and daily diligence.
Don’t empty your chicken’s water in their enclosure in the winter time. While this isn’t a good practice regardless of what time of year as it creates muddy, unsanitary conditions, emptying your chicken water inside their enclosure during the winter can result in frostbite and exacerbates conditions which contribute to injury and disease. When it is time to clean and empty your chicken’s water make sure you’re doing so outside of their space and keeping their enclosure as clean and dry as possible throughout the winter.
Place your water dispensers in an area that receives natural sunlight. If possible, position your water dishes or water dispenser in a place that receives full sunlight if that is a possibility for you. While not sufficient to keep water from freezing on its own, this will utilize the sun’s natural ability to warm your chicken’s water and prevent it from freezing for longer.
During the winter months use sturdy plastic or thick rubber livestock dishes as opposed to metal dishes. Metal dishes while great for use in the summer months lose heat too quickly to be good water containers especially during the winter months. Thick durable plastic or rubber livestock dishes will keep your chicken’s water warmer longer and help prevent water from freezing.
Place your chicken water up off the ground using bricks or pavers. Anything directly in contact with the ground is going to freeze faster. You can use bricks, pavers, concreate blocks, or even smooth stones or scrap lumber to get your chicken’s water off the ground. If you’re using this method, I also recommend securing the water with a bungee cord or rope because chickens will climb and explore any high places, including the top of their water container. Securing the water dispenser or dish can help prevent unwanted spills.
Place your black rubber livestock dish inside of a lined tire with no rim. Using a spare or discarded tire with no rim, fill the inside of the tire with an insulating material like pool noodles or spray foam. Place your black rubber livestock dish inside the tire and place this completed water station some place where it receives direct sun at least part of the day. You can also add ping pong balls to the water to break the surface tension and prevent freezing for longer.
Build a miniature greenhouse around your water container or dispenser. In combination with lifting your water container off the ground, you can construct a miniature greenhouse around your water station to help keep it warm during the winter months. You can construct your miniature green house with a wooden frame or from scrap material like extra fencing. Using clear plastic create a box or dome around your water dispenser leaving one side open so your chickens can still access it. Note it will be important to reinforce the top of the miniature green house with scrap lumber or boards because your chickens will climb on this at some point.
You can manually bring in your chicken water at night and refresh it daily with warm water in the morning. After the sun has set and your chickens have roosted, they won’t be utilizing their water dispenser during the night when they’re sleeping on their perches. You can collect your water dispensers at night once the last chicken in your flock has roosted and fill them with warm water each morning when you let your chicken’s out of their coop or enclosure.
Electrical options include a heated livestock water bowl or a drop-in livestock water dispenser heater. If at all feasible, I highly recommend utilizing a livestock heated water bowl or a drop-in livestock safe tank heater. Read the safety instructions of any heated livestock appliances carefully to ensure you don’t accidentally create a dangerous or unsafe situation in your chicken area. Electric heated livestock water dispensers are both convenient and safe when used properly. Even those these options utilize electricity they will still need to be checked daily to ensure they are working properly. Read and follow any manufacturer instructions included with your chosen heated livestock accessory.
I hope this included some helpful information for you to help keep your chicken’s water from freezing this winter. Check out Chuck’s other social media for more backyard chicken and homesteading content.
Chuck and the Chicks 