zigzag Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Hi everyone, i am new to the forum and new to keeping hens, more as pets than anything and was really worried about looking after them, however they have brought so much fun and we love em to bits, i am struggleing at the moment to keep the water unfrozen what with the er frost and snow, i replenish it in the morning and it is frozen when i get back from work, any suggestions on keeping it from freezing. if i put a bowl in they just walk in it and it gets really dirty. also i have a water bell in the hens house as well as one outside, they never seem to drink from the one inside so do i need to have one in there, do chickens drink at night, i would really appreciate any advice from you thanks very much angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Hi Zigzag and welcome to the wonderful world of chickens! People on here have been putting ping pong balls, and corks in the water so that when the chickens peck at them they break the ice. I've been defrosting with a kettle of hot water and taking some of the smaller containers in at night. Others have rigged up ingenious tins with candles or electric light bulbs and stand the water container on that- take your pick. Oh and someone put an aquarium heater in the water. My experience is that they don't drink at night so the main thing is to make sure they have access during the day Hope that helps Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I take the water container in at night, and then take it out in the morning with warm (not hot) water in it, which keeps it liquid while they drink after their night's fast. I check it periodically during the day and top up with warm water if needed. When they are FR during the day they seem to prefer puddles and bits of water stuck in drain covers and such like, or our pond! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Hi Zigzag and welcome They dont need food or water in their coop at night. i have been bringing in the drinkers at night and as said before filled with warm water in the morning, then checking and changing through the day. Luckily, whilst this awful weather is freezing everything, my DD is on school hols, so keeping an eye on the water for me while Im at work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Same as the others really, I bring the water in in the evening and hang up fresh, warm water in the morning (they don't eat or drink at night). I've put it in a sheltered area and it's not frozen (yet!) so I haven't had to use corks, ping pong balls, lightblubs or tea lights! Good job too, as I seem to have the world's clumsiest chickens who would either electrocute themselves or burn their run down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Welcome to the forum. They don't drink at night, so I wouldn't bother about having a drinker in the hen house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Hello ZigZag nice to meet you. Personally, i take my drinker in at night then put it out in the morning, using warm water and i check on it throughout the day to see if its frozen over. As Egluntyne said, chickens dont drink at night and its very important that they have full access to water everyday. All the best xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 hello everyone thanks so much for your advice really appreciate it, i had my suspicions they did not drink at night as the water feeder is never any lower than when i put it in, at first it got full of wood chippings i put it higher and then worried it was too high . thanks again regards angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
