Frozen water

Chickens need fresh water all day long!  At night they are in the coop and sleeping, unless the bitter cold makes us move food and water in, they just sleep at night.  When it is so cold, how do we keep the water from freezing?  Well, there are many ways I researched to accomplish this feat.  A heater from the bottom can work, but with our set up it was a better idea to wrap the water can with heating tape. This I researched, then found at the feed store.  That day they were out of under water fount heaters anyway so the heat tape was my option.  Usually it is used for pipes you don't want to freeze, such as outdoor spigots.  I recently needed to re-tape one of our water cans and here is the result:

 

It is basically an electric cord wrapped in plastic so it won't get wet.  The orange does not get covered, but the rest can be secured with electrical tape.  I washed this outside piece of the water can, then dried it so the tape would stick.  The green cord is from our previous clothes line, and is what we hang the feeder and water can with out in the coop.  This somewhat short piece of heat tape is working well for our can, unless it is super cold outside.  If we hang it in the coop it usually makes it though a cold night, but the extra moisture in the coop can lead to frostbite for the ladies and Mr. Roo.  He has had some issues with the tips of his comb and frostbite, so I try to avoid that at all costs.  Those beautiful brown eggs are almost all water, so if they are without water even for a couple hours during the day, egg production will go down.  Here's to another cold day, with water! 

 

 A day without snow, so free ranging was a must! 

We have an extension cord from the outside plug by the house that reaches out to the coop.  Then the heat cord is hooked up and we have water!  This was a warm day since the water can on the right is also liquid without a cord. 

 

Winter treats!

Since we have had snow on the ground for the longest stretch this winter, the ladies, and Mr. Roo, are getting a bit bored.  When it is not too bitterly cold out, they do venture to free range.  BUT with all the snow what is there to find?  They scratch and find some leaves, or on 35 degree days they might get another dirt bath by the sunny front window, but otherwise it is mostly slim pickins'!  The kids have played with the field corn from the garage enough in their pretend "farms" that the hens can find piles of corn hidden in the snow, but they LOVE scraps!  We basically save any food scraps from the kitchen unless they are rotten, burn, or citrus.  These things the chickens won't love.  They run to me, after me, and follow me to the coop when I am coming out of the house with a bucket.  They just race to get the leftover noodles, veggie scraps, and meat bones!  It is quite funny to see them fight over little jewels of food we deem trash. 

These pictures are from earlier in the year when I wasn't freezing my hands off to take pictures.  YUM Macaroni!

Hey lady, we raced you here, where is the food!  Got any of that steak from dinner last night?

 

Our chickens always get feed from the store or local elevator, with scraps as treats.  We also supplement with some corn and soybeans in the winter for extra body warmth.  It is all mixed together and only fed for the coldest days as too much corn can heat them up too much, and be hard to digest after prolonged feeding.  We grind the corn ourselves with our heavy duty blender, and the beans have to be boiled, baked, and ground a bit for them.  The soybeans have an enzyme that is harmful to be ingested unless they are cooked.  I HATE the smell in the kitchen when Alex is baking the beans, but luckily my essential oils, Purification to be exact, kick the smell immediately once diffused. 

 

Soybeans being baked/dried after boiling. 

 

Also, on the really really cold days I give them warm oatmeal.  They scarf it down, and sometimes a second helping is needed for the adolescents who get left out, and the bantam who can't always squirm her way into the fray.  I am looking into other treats to hang with grains they would love.

  

This is the usual scene lately, only the brave peek out to see if the snow is gone.  I leave the door open, but usually they stay close to the coop on these days. 

 

Get ready for warmer weather, their favorite treat is.........Watermelon rind!  It is picked clean down to only the green skin layer.  They devour it!  Also, grapes are pretty comical to watch as they fight over them :)  Keep Warm!