I have two water pans screwed together with caulking between. I used a ceramic bulb socket and a heavy-duty computer power cord. I put the heater down inside an old tire, then set my 5 gallon plastic waterer on the top. The chickens don't tip the water over, and it stays cleaner. It worked great last year inside the coop. Only problem I ever had was that the seal on the jug lid would freeze, I had to take a bucket of hot water with me every day to up-end the thing in to thaw off the lid.
When I opened it up today to replace the bulb, I couldn't read the bulb size. DH gave me a bulb, which I put in without looking at the wattage. ****!!!*** After I had it all back together and caulked, he tells me it was a 100w bulb. I had to take it all back apart, with all that messy caulk everywhere. We couldn't find a 40w bulb, so now it has a 25w bulb in it. I hope that will be big enough.
I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND ON THIS - GO DOWN A FEW MORE MESSAGES...
Well I got some cookie tins at Goodwill today, but the more I think about the aquarium heater count at my house, the more I think I will use their existing waterer with an aquarium heater dropped in. I know I have a 75 watt, might have a 50 watt. Used to be able to get 25's but I think they are gone the way of the dinosaurs.
My 5 gallon chicken water bucket has a spout mounted in the lid, so I don't have to pry the lid open at all, and I could drop a submersible heater in. If it is cold enough, I don't think I have to worry about the aquarium heater melting the bucket. Has anyone tried this?
(the chickens drink from the big bowl around the bucket. I have a 1/4 inch hole drilled at the bottom edge of the bucket. Keeps them out of the waterer.)
Or I could do the heated can with one of my quart jar waterers sitting on top of it.
would a CFL work? or does that not heat up enough?
As for installation, I would just feed the wire through a small hole and have the bulb assembly inside the tin. Caulk up the hole and it's weatherproofed cheaply.
Quote:
No, CFL's do not give off enough heat. A 40W is PLENTY, I would not use anything higher. I used silicone caulk around the hole and the 4 I own and use all winter are now 4 years old and going strong.
Well actually, I was at Petsmart today and saw a 10W mini aquarium heater. That uses less electricity so maybe that's a more reliable heater. That way I don't have to find a lamp assembly and cookie tin