Inexpensive chicken water heater

[Beekissed]

My dog bowl is in the coop, so no icing over even in teens below zero. Maybe placing the water in a more sheltered area outside would prevent it from icing over?

 

[buckabucka]

I use the heated dog bowls both indoors and outdoors. They are the larger gallon+ size and never iced over (even at -30). Eventually, they quit, so I always keep an extra in stock.

They last more than one winter, but because I have 4 that all look the same and are different ages, I never knew how long they lasted. I bought a different kind last winter and marked the date on the bottom so I'll know how long it lasts this time.

 

[Beekissed]

I've had my current bowl for 6 winters now. I had the same brand of heated bucket for the dog but it finally stopped working after 8 yrs, so replaced it last year.

For those who cannot find room for their waterer in the coop, could you possibly build a flip down platform for it so you still have floor space but your waterer is under shelter?

I'll be building a flip down platform this year just to keep mine out of the deep litter that gets fluffed into it....last year I had it sitting on a two step stool from the house but I'd like something a little more chicken worthy this year. It has to be set pretty high to escape the throwing of the litter, so this should be interesting finding a way to keep it that high and the birds still have access.

 

[thistlebloom]

Mine have not iced over either, but we are in the trees, so not a lot of wind.

 

[canesisters]

This is what I do. Rubber pan, bird bath de-icer. Has worked like a dream for 2 years. Once I was in a hurry and forgot to bring a bucket to refill (can't use the hose in freezing weather) so I piled snow up in the dish. It melted it and there was a bowl of water when I got home.

 

[Smart Red]

I have my coop water set upon an open wooden box (old cat house). That keeps it out of the litter scratching and at a level that makes the chickens stretch a bit to reach water. This keeps it much cleaner and the space underneath is available for a chicken-in-hiding.

In the winter I also keep my chicken feed in the coop (easier for me) where I have another raised box -- this one metal -- to store the garbage can on. The floor space is changed very little by these additions. The chicken feed is raised off the floor and hung from the ceiling. Chickens can walk under the feeder so if I were tight with chicken numbers, they would still have the same floor space.

 

[Beekissed]

Red, that's how I like to do things too...I like to maximize floor space and also give different levels of being. I designed my nest boxes off the floor to leave space underneath for juveniles needing refuge or a snuggly place to rest. Couldn't do it with the feeder, though, as I feed fermented feed and use a trough. When it's way below zero I don't even use the trough as the feed will freeze in it, so I throw it on the warm DL to keep it thawed and it gives the birds something to do when confined into the coop by deep snow or below zero temps.

 

[Nyboy]

Red Did your cat that disappeared ever come back home?

 

[Smart Red]

Why thank you, yes. I mean, no, I don't have a missing cat. I don't have a cat at all.
However cat ownership works, Thumbs wandered back -- hungry and thinner -- 16 days after he disappeared. I just opened the garage door that morning and there he was walking in with his brother. Gypsy is happy! Thumbs has been staying very close since then.

 

[Nyboy]

Wow 16 days if only he could talk.