Winter’s on the way, and I wanted a way to stop my chickens’ water freezing without wasting electricity running a heater all day, or overheating the water. So I built a smart system that automatically turns the water heater on and off depending on the temperature — and it’s working brilliantly for less than £20, All you need is a WIFI signal and power.
Here’s how it’s set up:
That way, the heater (£12) only runs when it’s actually needed — no more guessing or wasting energy. The probe and plug both show up in the free Tuya/Smart Life app, so I can check temperatures or manually toggle things from my phone too.
It’s been reliable so far, and it gives me peace of mind that the flock will always have unfrozen water, even on frosty mornings. Also the water heater plate would raise the temperature too high if left on too long.
If anyone’s looking for a simple, affordable winter setup that practically runs itself — this might be worth a try!
Another routine I have set is I have a contact sensor on the run door - If the door is open at sunset, it turns my smart bulbs in the house Red and sends a notification to my phone. So I never forget to close them in.
Here’s how it’s set up:
- A smart Wi-Fi plug controls the power to the heater. (£3)
- A Wi-Fi temperature probe slips inside the drinker easily without blocking water flow. (£4)
- I then created two simple automations:
- Heater ON when the probe temperature drops below 2.5°C
- Heater OFF when the probe temperature rises above 6°C
That way, the heater (£12) only runs when it’s actually needed — no more guessing or wasting energy. The probe and plug both show up in the free Tuya/Smart Life app, so I can check temperatures or manually toggle things from my phone too.
It’s been reliable so far, and it gives me peace of mind that the flock will always have unfrozen water, even on frosty mornings. Also the water heater plate would raise the temperature too high if left on too long.
If anyone’s looking for a simple, affordable winter setup that practically runs itself — this might be worth a try!
Another routine I have set is I have a contact sensor on the run door - If the door is open at sunset, it turns my smart bulbs in the house Red and sends a notification to my phone. So I never forget to close them in.
