Using aquarium heaters

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RubenRO said:
What is the best tool to keep your water from freezing? Preferably not just a few liters.
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I hate that question because I have yet to fund answer unless I can keep entire area warm where it gets expensive. I can keep birds in good health easily by watering twice daily, but that is labor intensive. Other approaches include making so food is hydrated and water is applied frozen as crushed ice.
 
Some of the plastic heater waterers are a pain to fill and manage, so shop carefully for one of those. I have one that has to be turned over to fill, and it's sitting in the tack room for emergency backup only, because I hate the thing!
Mary
 
My newest aquarium heater, in a tank indoors, just died, FOUR WEEKS after purchase! Not good for the tropical fish, and another trip to the fish store today.
Mary
PS: The heater came unplugged!!! Just checked it again, so at least it's still working. The fish should be happies fairly soon...
 
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woodmort said:
It seems like I've written about 10 post on threads concerning heating waterers using these with the simple warning: do not use. So I'll make a single thread and hope those with the same questions will read it.

I spent 30 year in the aquarium hobby not only as a hobbyist/breeder but I used to write consumer testing reports for a national magazine on a variety of aquarium products, including heaters. In that time I used and checked not only the simple, hang-on-the back of the tank heaters but submersible types made of glass, metal, even heating pad types. Most had the thermostat inside the same tube as the heater but for some units the two were separate. All were designed to heat water from interior room temperature to a maximum of 85 degrees and most weren't total reliable. (Over the years I probably lost more fish from failed heaters--either too hot or too cold--than any other single cause.) The thermostats of most were bi-metal ones that would either stick open or fail to close--just adjusting them often took several days. Additionally, if the water level fell below the heating element when the temperature was below the set one, the heater would not shut off until it either burned out or, in those cases where the tube was glass, shattered the tube. Often when the latter happened the electrical circuit remained open pumping power through the water. In short, they are not made for nor do you want these things in the waterer that is in your chicken coop! There are heaters designed for this thing, either submersible birdbath heaters which are probably okay in areas where the temperatures aren't extreme to specific chicken waterer devices. Don't try elaborate schemes to save a couple of bucks by using an aquarium heater, go with a device designed for the correct job. Chances are you'll end up with one eventually anyway.
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I have an electrically heated water heater specifically made for chickens. But this link only seems to address heating water. My Question...can you use fish tank heaters to put in or hang in a chicken coop to warm chickens during frigid temperatures????
 
AnnMS said:
My Question...can you use fish tank heaters to put in or hang in a chicken coop to warm chickens during frigid temperatures????
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Goodness, NO.
Aq heaters need to be submerged in water, they are meant to heat water not air.
...and it's very rare that coops need to be heated.
@AnnMS I suggest you start a new thread in the https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/ forum with your location, pics of your coop and run, and your concerns about winter temps.
 
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AnnMS said:
I have an electrically heated water heater specifically made for chickens. But this link only seems to address heating water. My Question...can you use fish tank heaters to put in or hang in a chicken coop to warm chickens during frigid temperatures????
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I agree with aart on this. NO. A device made to heat water should not be used to heat air. You are asking it to do something it was not made to do.

I live in NW Montana. My chickens have been in temperatures below -20 F. The coop has 10 square feet of ventilation that is never closed to get the warm but moist air out of the coop. That moist air is what makes chickens cold. A warm chicken is a dry chicken. At -26 my chickens were out in their run. Run is set up so no breezes blow on the birds. They were eating, drinking, and pecking around just as they always do.
 

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