Cheap & Easy Way to Keep Your Chickens' Water from Freezing!

[Preservation Acres]

I'm willing to bet that nearly all of us have one of these things laying around. It's one of those desktop coffee cup warmers. I put it on an upside down plate and put a ceramic bowl on top of it. Temps have fallen into single digits here, and it keeps it from freezing. I've tested the temperature several times, and it keeps the water at about the average temperature of tap water. Needless to say, the hen's love it.

I keep it plugged in 24-7 with an extension cord. I change the water daily. I only have 5 hens right now, so it works for me.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Amazing ingenuity! Thank you

 

[Preservation Acres]

Thanks! I finally got the pic to work.

 

[Cetawin]

Very nifty idea. Love it.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Do the chickens knock it over much?

 

[usschicago1]

cool!

 

[pamperedpoultry]

Thats a good idea, don't think it would work for me since I have 17 pens..LOL

 

[Preservation Acres]

They haven't knocked it over, but it's a pretty heavy bowl. It's ceramic and thick.

 

[twister]

welllll i'll be! this coffee addict has never seen that invention. neat-o... and neat-o idea for additional uses!

 

[canny75]

Good idea! I just found a $4.95 heated dog bowl at Wal*Mart. The cord is a very heavy-duty coil; it's meant to be chew proof and, therefore, peck-proof. The only problem is that the water evaporates more quickly than I expected; the bowl needs a full refill every day.
Question: How much do 5 chickens drink in a day? I've been using a gallon-sized inverted water reservoir until now, so I may have underestimated how thirsty these girls get!