It’s cold in Maine right now, and getting electricity to a chicken coop can be complicated. If the coop isn’t wired, running extension cords is risky, and using heat lamps inside is a fire risk.
Chickens can handle the cold quite well in a well-ventilated space, but it’s a hassle to deal with freezing water every few hours.
Crafty poultry owners have found solutions. Here are a few off-grid ideas you can try to keep your chickens’ water from freezing without heat, or at least slow down the freeze.
To start with, insulating the container and placing it in a sunny spot will help. Try a larger black rubber dish if you have access to one. On sunny days, it’ll absorb and retain more heat than steel or plastic. If your coop has safe wiring, heated dog water bowls are popular choices.
caring for your flock
If you have an old black tire around, try stuffing the inside with some insulating materials such as pressed foam or old leaves and placing the rubber container in the middle. Or, try some cinder blocks filled with sand to hold onto heat from the sun.
Fill the dish with ping-pong balls to disrupt the freezing process. In an outdoor run, the breeze pushes them across the surface of the water, keeping it from freezing. Your mileage may vary with this one depending on placement and wind conditions, but it can work.
Chickens typically don’t drink water at night, so you can bring their water containers inside to thaw out and warm up by morning.
Adding a closed container of salt water to the water can delay the freezing process because saltwater freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater. This one is better suited for milder days, but it works more efficiently if the salt in the water is more concentrated. Just make sure the container is securely sealed so the salt doesn’t get your chickens sick.
caring for your flock
If you have a few old windows or some plastic sheets lying around, you can create a little lean-to greenhouse or shelter over the water bowl to keep it heated when the sun is out.
Or, try using pocket hand warmers under a stainless steel or metal bowl, which will conduct the heat. The handwarmers can give off heat for hours, potentially keeping the water from freezing until you get home from work.
If you’re determined to use extension cords, make sure they’re rated to use outdoors. Weatherproofing connector covers can reduce the risk of damage from the elements. GFCI outlets will turn off the electricity flow if the current changes. The chicken run likely has fewer flammable materials than inside the coop.
