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

[Cluckies]

@amynrichie That, is cold. Did you leave it on and plugged in overnight? I just set mine up yesterday and I brought mine in overnight and put it back out this morning. I haven't found a heater waterer combo yet that can go over night and not freeze. This one might be ok with the heater and the pump, haven't tried it overnight yet though. Did you always leave yours out overnight before last night and it was ok?

I had a terrible mishap yesterday, this waterer:

came apart in my run and spilled 2 gallons of water. I was a scooping fool with my bare hands trying to keep it from running all over the run. at -7, that is cold! I was a little more than upset. So I put the bucket with nipples, heater, pump out. I also put my heated dog dish back out for during the day as well. one of mine has a hard time with the nipples, she just pecks at it really hard over and over and doesn't drink, idiot can't figure it out, even last summer she just couldn't figure it out.

 

[amynrichie]

@amynrichie That, is cold. Did you leave it on and plugged in overnight? I just set mine up yesterday and I brought mine in overnight and put it back out this morning. I haven't found a heater waterer combo yet that can go over night and not freeze. This one might be ok with the heater and the pump, haven't tried it overnight yet though. Did you always leave yours out overnight before last night and it was ok? I had a terrible mishap yesterday, this waterer: came apart in my run and spilled 2 gallons of water. I was a scooping fool with my bare hands trying to keep it from running all over the run. at -7, that is cold! I was a little more than upset. So I put the bucket with nipples, heater, pump out. I also put my heated dog dish back out for during the day as well. one of mine has a hard time with the nipples, she just pecks at it really hard over and over and doesn't drink, idiot can't figure it out, even last summer she just couldn't figure it out. :/

So far I had been leaving out out all night without problem. I have the heated dog dish out there now while I come up with a plan. I work tonight and tomorrow night, so it will have to wait a couple days.

 

[aart]

My heater was actually still on when I unplugged it. I just think the temps were way too much. As it's currently frozen in the bottom of the bucket, I can't verify what wattage it is. This definitely gives me some ideas for mods for round two.

Wow really?! Does it have an indicator light that showed you it was on?
Surprised the solid ice didn't crush it.

 

[amynrichie]

Wow really?!  Does it have an indicator light that showed you it was on?
Surprised the solid ice didn't crush it.

Yes, the indicator light was on, glowing through the block of ice.

 

[aart]

Quote: WOW..I guess the really cold stuff is just insurmountable.
Best of Luck, hang in there.

 

[Crunchynurse]

My dh just made this for me recently. Last night was first really cold night. We didn't have the pump until today, but had a 125 watt Ebo-Jager aquarium heater in the 5 gallon bucket. Using Thermocube. I went out today to install the pump as it just came yesterday in the mail. Skim ice on top of the bucket, ice down the sides. At least 2 of the horizontal nipples are frozen and the little metal buttons can't be pushed. Turned the heater to max and installed the pump. Is anyone else having trouble with the nipples freezing? It was 15F last night and around 20F when I went out this morning to check the birds after my son said the water level didn't drop since yesterday.

Jen

 

[Cluckies]

Welcome to BYC Crunchynurse, I've been using a 2 gallon bucket with horizontal nipples and aquarium heater and pump. So far so good, but I bring it in the house at night, the chickens don't drink at night anyways, plus, it is not in their coop as it would give off to much humidity, so I keep it in the run. Tomorrow will be a test, it's suppose to be -14 below when I put the water out at 4:30am before I go to work. It is not suppose to get above -5

How cold was you really cold night?

 

[Crunchynurse]

Thanks!

It was 15F last night. Not extreme or anything. It's not a lot of ice, but it's the fact that the nipples are frozen up. Supposed to be about the same tonight, but -1 tomorrow night. If I can't get that water warm enough by morning to thaw the nipples, I'll bring it in until the next day. My son had to give them a pail of water today because the buttons on the nipples could not be pushed in to let water flow. I tried pushing all 4 with my fingers, wouldn't budge. The pail he put out this morning did not freeze (23 F was the high) beyond the tiniest amount of skim ice, but I told him to take that out and empty it, or we would end up breaking thick ice in the morning.

Jen

 

[Cluckies]

I've been doing some research, it seems like the higher up on the bucket the nipples are, the less likely they are to freeze, I used my point and shoot thermometer, 25 degrees near the bottom and 50 near the top, 44 midway. On a warmer day it was 78 near the top, 60 midway and 39 near the bottom.

 

[Crunchynurse]

That makes sense, it would be coldest at the bottom. I guess I though the heater being partly on the bottom would do the trick but it's not enough. I really don't want to unplug everything and haul a 5 gallon bucket in the house every night. Is there some type of insulation that is nontoxic or chicken-proof, that I could wrap around the bucket? In order to move the nipples I'd have to toss this bucket and have hubby drill a new one. Which he would be ever so thrilled about. :-/

Jen