Picture by Staci Samuels (AChickAndHerGarden.com)
Do you live where your chickens’ water freezes up in the cold weather? How can you prevent the water from freezing so your chickens can get a drink when they need it? Here is a great article by Staci Samuels on how she economically lets her chickens access to drinkable water all winter long.:
If you’ve read any of my previous posts about winter chicken care, you’ll know that I am a firm believer in NOT adding electricity to the chicken coop. You can read Why We Don’t Add Lights To The Chicken Coop for more details on why not.
So, in the snowbelt of Northwestern Pennsylvania, how have I been keeping my chickens from going without freshwater all winter long??
For the past few years I have been giving myself a lot of work! I have 3 gallon waterers that I have been swapping out throughout the day.
I’ve also been bringing them in every night to thaw out completely. And let me tell you, If you forget to bring them in at night those babies are rock solid!!!
This was not fun. I don’t have a thick layer of down to keep me warm out there, and I was getting pretty sick of it.
But thank you Lord! I found a new way! AND I don’t have to raise my electric billor compromise my beliefs of keeping electricity out of the coop.
So what is this magic trick that keeps my waterers from freezing at subzero temperatures? SALT WATER!!!
NO. I am not giving my chickens salt water. That would be very bad!
I am making salt water bottles to insert into the waterers. One simple step. That’s it.
Find a 20 oz bottle (mine was Diet Coke, yes I know not healthy, but we all have our vices), add ¼ cup salt and fill with water. Close up your bottle and place it in your waterer. That’s it!!
The first day that I tried this, the real feel got down to -7˚F (real feel). I checked on it throughout the day and it never once froze!
There was a thin layer on top of the dish but the chickens easily broke through it to get a drink. And just to be daring, I left it out all night. And guess what? No ice!!!
Go check out Staci’s website at AChickAndHerGarden.com for even more fantastic tips to add to your care for your chickens!.
