How to Prevent Your Chickens’ Water from Freezing

Posted by Chickens for Backyards

With the temperatures starting to drop, your main concern will be keeping your chickens warm and comfortable. But you should also worry about their water. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s possible that some of your chickens’ water will start to freeze. Here are a few ways to prevent that:

Rotate the water fountschicken drinking water

The most straightforward way to prevent your chickens’ water from freezing is to rotate the water founts two to three times per day. You do this by keeping one water fount in your home or garage, and the other in your chicken coop. When the one in the coop freezes, switch it out with the one in the home or garage.

Break up the ice as it forms

You can also check on the water frequently during the day and break up any ice you see forming. Some chicken owners even place ping pong balls in the water, as the ball will disrupt the water and keep it from freezing. However, this can be time consuming, and if temperatures are consistently below freezing your efforts may become futile.

Buy a heated chicken waterer

The two methods above will work, but they take time and energy. If you don’t feel like doing any of that and you have money to spare, consider investing in a heated chicken waterer. These run on electricity 24/7, so you’ll never have to worry about replacing the batteries. However, they will increase your electric bill and, again, they are more expensive than normal chicken waterers.

For more tips on how to care for your flock during the winter, read through our blog or contact Chickens for Backyards today!