Building the perfect bucket waterer

[TomZilla43]

So I built a 5 gallon bucket waterer with horizontal nipples and I really like it. However now it's moving into winter and I have to keep it from freezing up, I've seen folks on here talking about using an aquarium heater to do that. Anyone out there who has found one that does a great job of keeping it liquid in freezing conditions(I live in Middle Tennessee so it's not like we have the worst of winters but at their very worst it does get down into single digits several times a year). TIA

Tom

 

[cavemanrich]

You can purchase a stock tank heater. They come in different sizes and are thermostatically controlled.
Here is a thread that may have answer to your exact situation if you read the posts.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-do-you-keep-your-water-from-freezing.1211388/

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[jreardon1918]

My water bucket is what you describe. I use this stock tank heater. Saw it at Tractor Supply this weekend. Mine is a year old. No freezing here. It keeps the water just above freezing. I think a fish tank heater will try to keep the water hotter. I highly recommend a GFI outlet.

 

[Mosey2003]

Get that stock tank deicer ^^^ and you're good to go.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I copied @aart's aquarium heater set up:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

It works great!

 

[blackdog043]

Agree with the 250 watt stock tank de-icer, that's what I use.