DIY Automatic Waterer

[panner123]

Since you are using a garden hose to fill the bucket, you could use pipe rap
to keep it from freezing. That stuff work down to almost 0 degrees. Better yet is to dig down below the frost line and bury a pipe. Yes, I know hard work but, that are what grand children are for.
Great idea, sorry I wasn't smart enough to think of it.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

i don't have kids yet so i'm the laborer in our house... but I could use that wrap or that heater cord for pipes..

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

kudos for the ingenuity, not sure I'm comfortable with the electricity and water thing. but its a good idea.

keep us posted on the chicken trials

Randy

 

[aran]

agreed a fantastic prototype mate...nicely done. Im in the same boat that having a light fitting in a bucket with water just gives me the willies even if the trip switch would shut down the power theoretically.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

Yeah, most people get weirded out by electricity and water.. But there's some things to remember. Unless you're fooling around in the bucket full of water with the light plugged in there is little "risk". There's no way this bucket can ever over flow or fill up to where the light is. The bucket would have to be knocked over for the water to hit the bulb, which would be difficult, we're talking about 15-20lbs of water weight in the bottom of the bucket. And as mentioned, plug it in to a GFCI plug and that will add a "safety device".

It's really no more dangerous than your common fish tank, and the water in the fish tank is a heck of a lot closer to the bulb than the water in this bucket.

I have thought of an alternative to the lightbulb, and that's a small fishtank waterheater. The fully submersible type, but that would bring the cost up another $20, and I'm not sure it would be able to keep up with the freezing cold. Might be worth experimenting with. I'll have to see if I have one of those heaters laying around or pick one up next time I'm at walmart.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

I bet if you wrapped the bucket with refletex (looks like bubble wrap coated with aluminum foil) an aquarium heater or smaller watage light would keep up just fine.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I can't wait to show your design to DH in the morning!!!
I think he will love it. We have been talking about auto waterers lately.

Jean

 

[kstaven]

Rather than run the risk of water splashing the bulb and it shattering you could use a ceramic heat emitter.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

FutureChickenMan, that's fantastic!

If you're up to the challenge I'd love to see you build a BYC Page with your pics and description so I could add it to the Learning Center .

 

[FutureChickenMan]

Quote:
Your wish is my command

With all the "stuff" you guys have shared with me it's the least I can do to help my fellow chicken nuts.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4655-Auto_Waterer