[harry]

 its all in the mind, i thought it was cold everything frozen but where were my indian runners and geese, in the stream swimming quiet happy, they dont feel the cold like us since most of us lost our hairy coating, , my hens are still perching outside every night, thats what they choose, adult birds dont seem to need heat. i have a brooder lamp on in my youngsters shed but i leave the door open and they are outside most of the time

[bigchicken]

I,ve had freezing problems. my solution is to cut the bottoms of plastic milk cartons  and use theses as temporary drinkers cost nothing and if one breaks when dunted to get frozen water out easy to raplace. My chooks eat snow even when water is available.   

[harry]

i posted this on 21/12/09.... i filled the heater up with 2 ltrs of parrifin, checked it today and it has about another 2 days left in it, thats about 18 days, its outside surrounded by bricks to support the galvanised drinker, perfect no frozen water, if i see another one at a car boot i will get it.

[DJ_Chook]

On another forum, I read on a thread about those cool bag freezer blocks being used to stop the water from freezing. You know the sort of iceblock you freeze up, then place in the bottom of your picnic hamper to keep things chilled on a hot summers day picnic (What planet am I on? -13 last night).

Anyway, they defrosted the block, heated up in simmering water, then used this block, wrapped in a towel under the chicken water. They said it worked for them, not tried myself.

DJ Chook

[harry]

lamp worked good last  night, its outside, very cold and freezing.. watched my geese eating snow, but i thought when water freezes most of the time theres no snow to eat.

[scattybiker1972]

cider vinegar in the water stopped it freezing complety then went out with a kettle to defrost frozen water.bloomin plastic drinkers cracked in my hands though. have to get metal ones,but can you put cider vinegar in them? im sure i read somewhere not to.,

[Wizard]

Not quite in keeping but I went in a big store in Grimsby yesterday and quite honestly had a shock really a rip off. Not two words I usually use.Paraffin in 1ltr plastic bottles £2:00p each.and here I am moaning about petrol at 110p a ltr;talk about making hay while the sun shines.I can remember when Lunn's used to call and fill Mothers 5 gallon drum with 5 gallons of Alladin Pink for 7 shillings (35p thats 19 ltr near enough) One shouldn't backward remember but £38 for a 5gallon drum?Its only just over £20 for petrol.LPG is £29 in 13 kg and £57 in 47 kg(refill) here in town.£2:00 a litre Oh me Oh my Wally used to say

[Janette1970]

I don't let my chickens out as early (10 am some days!). I have two drinkers. Each one is big enough to last my brood for a full day. I put luke warm water in and this lasts until bedtime. I rotate my drinkers so there is always one inside defrosting ready for the next day. This seems to work well for my girls (and george!)
When the snow has come down hard the girls use their common and go inside. We have had it bad here now since defore Christmas!! I didn't think my ex-batts would cope well with the prolonged freezing temperatures but they've been fine. Still getting 1 egg a day (from 3 ex-batts!)

Hope this helps.

[loopy]

we do exactly the same as you janette...i have tried adding cider vinegar but the water still froze, so we gave up trying to prevent the freezing and just got a second water container ( i use the omlet glugs and can't think of a way to warm those without risking the plastic melting but if anyone has any suggestions i'd love to hear them!)

[harry]

i posted this on 21 12 09.... the 4ltr parrifin bottle ran out today,28/01/10 didnt freeze at all, its outside, it was frozen this morning, i happy with that.