Battling winter

[NatureLove11]

ok so ive seen many posts of peoples waterers freezing over and i have the same problem. so i was thinking that maybe i could do what some of you have done, take a clay flower pot put a light bulb inside and put the waterer on top. my dad doesnt think this will work well because he says we will have to change the bulb to much and it will just be easier to buy an expensive heated chicken waterer what do you think?

 

[DPC poultry]

hang a heat lamp over it

 

[Robo]

Thats what I do.

 

[nittanyxi]

I bought a heated base to put my waterer on. It only comes on when it gets below 35 degrees so it isn't on 24/7. Playing around with a light bulb that close to the floor of the coop makes me nervous. I think it has been well worth the $40 I spent for it. Temps have been down in the teens here and no ice at all has formed in the waterer.

 

[NatureLove11]

I actually have to keep the water outside of there temporary house because we are still building a coop and the water makes things kind of cramped and when it leaks it builds mold on the poop tray we have so i cant really hang a heat lamp above it so i guess ill just go with the heated base then.

 

[Olive Hill]

Depending on how cold it is where you are just bringing the waterer in at night may serve you just as well and you won't need to run cords, use electricity, worry about light bulbs, etc. Bringing it in at night, lets it thaw if it's frozen up during the day, you can then fill it with hot water in the morning and if it's not really cold it will stay liquid for most of the day. The birds will learn to drink early and will be just fine. And they don't miss it at night as they're sleeping anyway.

If it is rather cold where you're at so the waterer doesn't stay liquid most of the day you can do the same kind of thing with two waterers as well. Putting one out in the morning, the other in the afternoon. The birds will learn, just as with the other system, to drink morning and afternoon.

 

[ryanhodapp]

We got heated dog bowl. It is on sale this week at Rural King for $13.
working great.

 

[NatureLove11]

thanks everyone

 

[ams3651]

Ive got the heated dog bowl too, holds a gallon and cost $19, probably the cheapest option and ok to be outside.

 

[CoupeDeVille]

same here, heated dog-water bowl ...works great !