Backyard Chicken Winter Water
Introduction
There are a few winter water options for backyard chickens. Freezing weather can be tough for backyard chicken owners. Here are some ways I have watered my chickens, and my current method that helps to keep the pesky mice population down!
Safety for Chicken Winter Water
If you’re on social media, then you’ve probably seen a post saying to use a crock pot for backyard chicken winter water. Crock pots were not made to hold water, heating 24/7, outside. I also saw someone on one of my local Facebook groups posting a picture of a plastic waterer on a metal heater. I commented asking if it was a special heater or plastic? The owner said no there was actually a manufacturer recommendation to NOT do this!
Personally, I would not practice either method. Most electric heaters for outside also do not recommend extension cords! Why put your animals and property at risk?
Electric Free Option
When your coop does not have electric, you will need to provide water 2 to 4 times daily. The severity of the cold can make a big difference on how often you will need to give fresh water. Putting water in shallow black rubber tubs (often used for large animal feeders) will work better than metal dishes. Adding a few ping pong balls to float will help extend the freeze free time. Straw, hay, and manure around the tub can help also. If you use the deep litter chicken coop bedding this can help.
Electric Heating for Winter Water
Chickens are naturally messy animals. Their scratching and dust bathing even inside the coop with regular bedding can make a mess in water. I have used a heated dog bowl successfully, but it gets dirty fast!
I have also used a metal bowl with a plug in metal rod heater. This also worked but gets dirty fast!
The last 10 years or so I have used an electric metal heated base. This has been most successful because I simply put their normal metal chicken waterer on, and it stays fairly debris free. However, my best idea came to me this year when I found some food a mouse hid under the heated base. Normally I just clear some bedding and put the heater on the concrete floor. This year I had it up on cider blocks. With some clearance to get under, the mice like the heat and a mouse trap can go between the blocks!
Conclusion
No matter what my situation is, water is my main priority when the temps drop. Some years with no electric in the coop made it harder than others. But, each year I work at learning and improving my animal care methods to keep my backyard chickens healthy and happy!
What are you using for your chicken’s winter water? Leave a comment!
