making a heated waterer…tank de-icer or aquarium heater

[DickMidnight]

i’m gonna make my chickens a heated waterer using a 5gal bucket and horizontal nipples.

what’s better? a tank de-icer or an aquarium heater?

also, this will be powered by extension cords. i was thinking of using a thermocube, but i don’t know if they’re weatherproof. anyone have input on that?

 

[DickMidnight]

You will be happy with that! I use a 250 watt stock tank deicer that sits on the bottom of a 14 gal drum and it works great!

so far, so good. it took the birds 4-5 days to fully get the hang of the nipples but now they’ve all got it down and i’ve had no issues with water freezing.

it’s running off of an extension cord right now but i’m having electricity run to the coop next month for the deicer and an electric fence

 

[DobieLover]

i’m gonna make my chickens a heated waterer using a 5gal bucket and horizontal nipples.

what’s better? a tank de-icer or an aquarium heater?

also, this will be powered by extension cords. i was thinking of using a thermocube, but i don’t know if they’re weatherproof. anyone have input on that?

I used a thermostatically controlled birdbath deicer that is compatible with plastic birdbaths (it has a build it safety cage). This eliminates the need for the thermocube.

 

[DickMidnight]

I used a thermostatically controlled birdbath deicer that is compatible with plastic birdbaths (it has a build it safety cage). This eliminates the need for the thermocube.

sounds perfect. do you have a link for it?

 

[DobieLover]

@DobieLover i found this one on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09J7WT7QC/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A1DWF2FYAPMTIY&psc=1

It doesn't state it's safe for direct contact with plastic.
I would drill a hole in the middle of the lid, run the cord through the hole and figure out a way to suspend the heater about 1" from the bottom of the bucket so it never touches the plastic then always keep the bucket full enough to keep the heater covered.

 

[DobieLover]

sounds perfect. do you have a link for it?

Unfortunately, no. I bought a used one off eBay.

 

[DickMidnight]

@DobieLover i found this one on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09J7WT7QC/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A1DWF2FYAPMTIY&psc=1

 

[wamtazlady]

I use this stock tank deicer. It is rated for use in plastic. Have been using this for 6 years in a plastic tote and it has kept the water thawed down to temperatures in the -20s F.

 

[blackdog043]

this one actually floats and is described as plastic safe

Just keep an eye on the nipples, if you bought the one that floats. You may have a problem with the nipples freezing, if it gets really cold where you are. I saw it a few times on here, when using floating type. The water needs to be the warmest down at the nipples. A five gallon bucket or larger may warm up the top half and turn off before the bottom gets above freezing.

 

[DickMidnight]

Just keep an eye on the nipples, if you bought the one that floats. You may have a problem with the nipples freezing, if it gets really cold where you are. I saw it a few times on here, when using floating type. The water needs to be the warmest down at the nipples. A five gallon bucket or larger may warm up the top half and turn off before the bottom gets above freezing.

i ended up going with a plastic safe stock tank deicer which sits on the bottom of the bucket.

i drilled the holes for the nipples about 3/4” above the top of the deicer so they can never drink the bucket dry.