Keeping water fountains thawed

mgarifo87 · Nov 15, 2014

How is everyone keeping their waterers thawed out? I have the 1 gallon water fountains and I'm having to chip away the ice twice a day at minimum! I live in Michigan so I can only imagine it getting worse lol my boyfriend read to use shallow pans with ping pong balls in them (if the water is moving it won't freeze kind of concept), I tried it tonight but I fear they are going to jump in and then freeze! I would rather not use electric heaters if I can avoid it so any ideas are welcome!!! I have both chickens and quail and use the same type of waterers please help!!

iwiw60 · Nov 16, 2014

mgarifo87 said:
How is everyone keeping their waterers thawed out? I have the 1 gallon water fountains and I'm having to chip away the ice twice a day at minimum! I live in Michigan so I can only imagine it getting worse lol my boyfriend read to use shallow pans with ping pong balls in them (if the water is moving it won't freeze kind of concept), I tried it tonight but I fear they are going to jump in and then freeze! I would rather not use electric heaters if I can avoid it so any ideas are welcome!!! I have both chickens and quail and use the same type of waterers please help!!

As you live in snow country as I do, you really need to look into some form of heated waterer for sure. As for myself, I have 2-1/2 gallon white plastic buckets with horizontal water nipples. I use what they call mini stock tank water heaters and have had no problems at all. Right now it's 4:00 a.m. and the outside temp is reading minus 4 degrees, but their waterer is functioning fine. Here's a few pics to show you what I did:

If you're interested in the how-to's on making this style of waterer look below here for my BYC page on making them. I wish you all the very best whichever way you decide to go...stay warm!!!

mgarifo87 · Nov 16, 2014

I think this plan would work great for my chickens, I think I will have to find a separate plan for my quail though. My boyfriend made a good point that as chickens are naturally curious and like to peck at new things it will work great but quail are more skiddish and leary about new things and since we disn't start them on a nipple waterer it will be really difficult possibly even impossible to train the quail to use it

but I am still interested in the plans to use on my chickens

iwiw60 · Nov 16, 2014

mgarifo87 said:
I think this plan would work great for my chickens, I think I will have to find a separate plan for my quail though. My boyfriend made a good point that as chickens are naturally curious and like to peck at new things it will work great but quail are more skiddish and leary about new things and since we disn't start them on a nipple waterer it will be really difficult possibly even impossible to train the quail to use it

but I am still interested in the plans to use on my chickens

Quail?? Not wanting to use horizontal nipple waterers?? Take a look....

No problem at all. The secret is to sit in there once you've got it built and "click" the stainless steel thingie....over, and over, and over, and over...(bring a boat cushion or bucket to sit on!!), and over and over. Eventually out of curiosity they WILL come see what you're up to. Once one or two are using them...they'll ALL use 'em ....

aart · Nov 17, 2014

iwiw60 said:
As you live in snow country as I do, you really need to look into some form of heated waterer for sure. As for myself, I have 2-1/2 gallon white plastic buckets with horizontal water nipples. I use what they call mini stock tank water heaters and have had no problems at all. Right now it's 4:00 a.m. and the outside temp is reading minus 4 degrees, but their waterer is functioning fine. Here's a few pics to show you what I did:

If you're interested in the how-to's on making this style of waterer look below here for my BYC page on making them. I wish you all the very best whichever way you decide to go...stay warm!!!

You should update your page with the heater info, there's some questions there in the comments about freezing.
I'm curious for a link to the heater you have and if you have measured the temp of the water in relation to the ambient temp..

cwenbass · Nov 17, 2014

HOw about a small terrarium pad under the metal waterer

iwiw60 · Nov 17, 2014

cwenbass said:
HOw about a small terrarium pad under the metal waterer

If you purchase a water heater similar to mine, just make SURE it is rated for plastic bucket use. Mine are, absolutely no probs. When I first put them in I thought "geez, maybe I should be a coffee cup saucer or something in there" but nope, it's doing just fine!

iwiw60 · Nov 17, 2014

aart said:
You should update your page with the heater info, there's some questions there in the comments about freezing.
I'm curious for a link to the heater you have and if you have measured the temp of the water in relation to the ambient temp..

Thanks for the heads up @aart .. I'll try and do that tonight. In the meantime, here's the link. I got them online at walmart:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Allied-Precision-2261-7872-250-Watt-Aluminum-Bird-Bath-De-Icer/23136155

Spendy little buggers but worth it for sure. This morning it was 4 degrees above zero and the water in the run bucket was around 40 degrees....same for the one in the coop.

Eggcessive · Nov 17, 2014

These are what I use and are very economical: http://www.amazon.com/Allied-Plasti...416267245&sr=1-4&keywords=electric+water+bowl

aart · Nov 17, 2014

iwiw60 said:
Quote: Thanks...what kind of thermometers do you have in your water buckets?
Those are 2 gallon buckets?

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