DIY Instructions for Very EASY heated waterer for under $20 bucks

[jimmywalt]

This thread is a "replacement" for my old thread where I was trying to figure out the best heated waterer.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-thought-for-a-5-gallon-winter-bucket-waterer


After many different trials from "cookie tin waterer" with 40 watt bulb that didn't get warm at all, to thinking about using a heated dog water dish, I finally came up with this idea from reading MANY threads here at BYC.

I live in Miichigan right along Lake Michigan where is gets pretty cold during the dead of winter. If memory serves me right, from early January till late February it stays below freezing almost all the time. So I need something that wont freeze, yet want the electric running only when necessary.

We have 5 chickens and a 4'x4'x4' coop with a 8' run in our back yard.

This waterer is made from a rectangle empty laundry soap bucket that can hold about 4 gallons of water, a submersible heater from Walmart, a submersible fountain pump from Harbor Freight, some 3/4" PVC pipe, and a nipple from a package purchased on Ebay from China. The heater and pump are plugged into a Thermocube that allows the electric to turn on when the temp of the cube is at 35 degrees and turns off at 45.

The bucket is raised off the coop floor about chest height of the chickens with cement block and some patio blocks. Under where the nipple is I put some folded up newspaper to catch any drips the chickens make.

Walmart heater:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Heater-1-ct/10291808

Harbor Freight fountain pump:
http://www.harborfreight.com/92-gph-miniature-submersible-fountain-pump-68389.html

Make sure any water item is plugged into a GFCI outlet. You don't want to find "fried chicken" in your coop!

Next to the waterer is a 5 gallon bucket feeder which is PRICELESS. You can find details on how to make this for $3 bucks in other BYC threads.

I believe this waterer will be the winner for me this winter. This is our first winter with chickens.

Please feel free to ask any questions. I'd be happy to share any suggestions to help you make one too!





Late addition to the bucket above.......... A drip catcher for stray drips





This is a test of the pump and heater in a round 5 gallon bucket.




The pvc and nipple that the chickens drink from



UPDATE - My new horizontal nipple bucket!!!!

I am now using horizontal nipple in a bucket and couldn't be happier!! It doesn't drip!!! I'll never go back!!!!!!!!

You can see the red nipple in the "Wind Fresh" bucket in the lower right corner. It works GREAT!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY no drips - None at all!!!!!

 

[americana-lover]

thanks a lot! This really helped me!

 

[Athensm50]

does the PVC extension where the nipple is not freeze?

 

[jimmywalt]

No. I dont think it will freeze if the water is moving from the pump and it stays at 76 degrees. The pvc only sticks about 6" off the bucket.


FORGOT TO MENTION IN MY POST ABOVE -

Purchase a Thermocube to plug the heater and pump in. The thermocube turns the electric on when the air temp falls below 35 degrees and turns off at 45 degrees! No wasted power!

Here is a link to the Thermocube:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-Thermocube-TC3/100210525#.UoFqEUko7IU

 

[fenwickchic]

This thread is a "replacement" for my old thread where I was trying to figure out the best heated waterer.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-thought-for-a-5-gallon-winter-bucket-waterer


After many different trials from "cookie tin waterer" with 40 watt bulb that didn't get warm at all, to thinking about using a heated dog water dish, I finally came up with this idea from reading MANY threads here at BYC.

I live in Miichigan right along Lake Michigan where is gets pretty cold during the dead of winter. If memory serves me right, from early January till late February it stays below freezing almost all the time. So I need something that wont freeze, yet want the electric running only when necessary.

We have 5 chickens and a 4'x4'x4' coop with a 8' run in our back yard.

This waterer is made from a rectangle empty laundry soap bucket that can hold about 4 gallons of water, a submersible heater from Walmart, a submersible fountain pump from Harbor Freight, some 3/4" PVC pipe, and a nipple from a package purchased on Ebay from China. The heater and pump are plugged into a Thermocube that allows the electric to turn on when the temp of the cube is at 35 degrees and turns off at 45.

The bucket is raised off the coop floor about chest height of the chickens with cement block and some patio blocks. Under where the nipple is I put some folded up newspaper to catch any drips the chickens make.

Walmart heater:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-Heater-1-ct/10291808

Harbor Freight fountain pump:
http://www.harborfreight.com/92-gph-miniature-submersible-fountain-pump-68389.html

Make sure any water item is plugged into a GFCI outlet. You don't want to find "fried chicken" in your coop!

Next to the waterer is a 5 gallon bucket feeder which is PRICELESS. You can find details on how to make this for $3 bucks in other BYC threads.

I believe this waterer will be the winner for me this winter. This is our first winter with chickens.

Please feel free to ask any questions. I'd be happy to share any suggestions to help you make one too!





Late addition to the bucket above.......... A drip catcher for stray drips





This is a test of the pump and heater in a round 5 gallon bucket.




The pvc and nipple that the chickens drink from

Thanks for the link to the automatic pop door opener/closer. We frequently worry because we are not back early enough in the evening (if we go out) to close them in (although they seem safe in the tractor). You just never know. Add the fact that my daughter (who opens the door in the a.m. before going to school) will be graduating this coming year and I like to sleep late and that link is invaluable. Hopefully, I can do this project myself. If not, I'll draft my 80 year old dad. He's great at stuff like this.

 

[jimmywalt]

Thanks for the link to the automatic pop door opener/closer. We frequently worry because we are not back early enough in the evening (if we go out) to close them in (although they seem safe in the tractor). You just never know. Add the fact that my daughter (who opens the door in the a.m. before going to school) will be graduating this coming year and I like to sleep late and that link is invaluable. Hopefully, I can do this project myself. If not, I'll draft my 80 year old dad. He's great at stuff like this.

You can do the door. It's super easy! I don't have any electrical or mechanical abilities at all!!! It was easy.

 

[RoyalPayne]

Where is the pop door thread link?

 

[jimmywalt]

Where is the pop door thread link?

In my signature line under every post I make.

Here you go....

Make an automatic coop door for only $5 bucks. Check out this link:
http://goo.gl/C1rmZd

 

[jimmywalt]

UPDATE - My new horizontal nipple bucket!!!!

I am now using horizontal nipple in a bucket and couldn't be happier!! It doesn't drip!!! I'll never go back!!!!!!!!

You can see the red nipple in the "Wind Fresh" bucket in the lower right corner. It works GREAT!!!!!!!!!

 

[jimmywalt]

Update....

This thing has been working great! Temps in the upper 20's at night lately, and the water remains "warm" all the time.

My chickens are loving this waterer and I am too!