Dizzy-Deb Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 It was first hard frost this morning and found ice in the girls water container. Is there anything can put in or do that will help prevent that ? thinking more of when we get into the real thick of winter and its going to freeze more. I think the chooks knew it was going to be a cold night last night because when I went to shut them in, there were both in the nest box, snuggled up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 A ping pong ball in the water shold stop it freezing over a bit I'd thought? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Brrrrr I find it easiest to empty the water at night rather than defrost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I do the same and empty the water at night and give them fresh in the morning when I let them out, I take the food in as well otherwise it ends up covered I. Slugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Yep....was very surprised. the Glug was ok but the gravity thing was iced up in the tray....bbbrrr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy-Deb Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Yep....was very surprised. the Glug was ok but the gravity thing was iced up in the tray....bbbrrr! Mine was a gravity one too Sari. I have took the glug out, perhaps will put back in as its deeper so maybe less prone to icing so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I put in warmish water so it freezes slower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelurch Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Anti freeze Putting a ping pong ball will most probably just make the water freeze around it. I find it easier to bring the water container into the house when there's frost forecast, then I take it out in the morning with fresh water when I go out to let them out of the cube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I'm not using a glug but with my other drinkers I've had to break the ice a few mornings now - even the duck paddling pool was completely frozen over. When I know it is going to be cold I bring the drinkers in. I plan to fill them with slightly warm water in the thick of Winter to hopefully prevent them freezing during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I think I will start to bring the glugs in at night too and put fresh out the next morning once it gets very cold. Apparently warm water will freeze quicker than cold water, so although it sounds a good idea it apparently doesn't work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Thanks for the tips folks I'll bring our Glug in when it's forecast to be really cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Some winter weather advice **here**. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Apparently warm water will freeze quicker than cold water, so although it sounds a good idea it apparently doesn't work Oh.. Its worked for me.. Or maybe it just hasn't been cold enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I've found it works for me too. In the depths of a cold snap, when the water refreezes during the day, I trundle up the garden with a watering can full of hot water, pour it onto the ice in the Glugs, wait a few moments and stir it round with the run pin, and I find that this will keep them going for a few more hours. I revert to the Glugs in icy weather, for this reason, as I find them much easier to deal with than the 'upturned bucket' types, which freeze into icebergs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Yep....was very surprised. the Glug was ok but the gravity thing was iced up in the tray....bbbrrr! I had the same problem last year, I have a jiffy bag over the reservoir bit which helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...