DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[Leahs Mom]

Base Water Heaters

And the base heaters I made from heated dog bowls last year. Will probably use again with these glass waterers this year but I also have a different idea I'd like to try too.

I needed to rig something to keep water from freezing on the broody side of the hen house with the vintage glass waterer. I also used these under pie pans with fermented feed in them to keep it from freezing solid since I put out a bunch when I go out to work in the morning for the whole day.


I first thought about making a "cookie tin heater" but decided not to do that as I feel that they may pose a fire risk for various reasons.

Instead, I decided to use the heating element from a heated dog bowl. That way, if my experiment doesn't work - or when I'm done using it - I still have a heated dog bowl to use! Double duty and these heat elements are designed to do the job already and wired correctly to handle the job...I feel the risk of fire is much lower using these elements. They also have the thermostatic control built right in so I don't have to purchase another item!

So...here we go.

Here's the water bowl right from the farm store. $14.99






Here's the bowl after I removed the heating element.



Here's the heating element. I believe the part in the center is the thermostatic heat sensor. It will only heat when the temperature drops below a certain degrees. I think it upper 30's on these. Under the heat element is Styrofoam for insulation and the plastic base that normally sits under the dog bowl.



Here is a cookie tin I picked up at Good Will $0.75. Notice that the top has a rim that will catch water if I have a leak. It was just the right size for the heater base....this is VERY COOL as I purchased it the day before I picked up the dog bowl and had no real idea that it would fit. I think that was Providential...just sayin'

I used Duct tape to attach the cookie tin lid to the heater base. Here you see the plastic bottom-side of the heater base which is normally under the dog bowl.



When completely taped down, the duct tape is fully covering the edges so that no water or shavings can get in there.



In the hen house:



With Fermented Feed



I had a couple of them.





Here is is with an evil plastic waterer base before I got the vintage glass bases.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I like this! I was trying to figure out how to use the 1/2 gallon jars. Thank you for posting!

Thanks! I have tons of the 1/2 gal. jars because I get milk from the farm in them (transporting illegal substances ).

 

[drakeschicks]

Thanks! I have tons of the 1/2 gal. jars because I get milk from the farm in them (transporting illegal substances ).

Yes, we get our milk (raw) in them too.

 

[LittleBits]

I'm looking for a way to keep a "stock" of water in the coop, or even just outside the coop, this winter so I don't have to carry a 5 gallon bucket out from the house. I'll probably have enough trouble getting myself out there when the snow and ice hit without carrying anything. Our coop has no access to electricity and it's a ways from the house. This spring/summer/fall I've kept a hose(actually 3 hoses!) out there, run from the outside spigot of the house.

Any ideas on this anyone?

 

[Bens-Hens]

Any ideas on this anyone?

All the methods we would use here in Oz would not work in your case. We don't get snow and ice at our place. In the dead of winter we get frost on our windscreens in the morning, maybe some hail in a storm, but no snow or frozen earth.

We would just have a drum down there dosed with ACV or similar and fill it once a week or something, but that would just freeze in your part of the world. Without power to heat it, I can only think of a solar panel/battery set up or some sort of slow combustion fire place that you could burn when you need to defrost the drum.

Sorry, probably not much help, we just are not accustomed to thinking in those sort of temps, more how to stop birds dying in the heat.

 

[perchie.girl]

I'm looking for a way to keep a "stock" of water in the coop, or even just outside the coop, this winter so I don't have to carry a 5 gallon bucket out from the house. I'll probably have enough trouble getting myself out there when the snow and ice hit without carrying anything. Our coop has no access to electricity and it's a ways from the house. This spring/summer/fall I've kept a hose(actually 3 hoses!) out there, run from the outside spigot of the house.

Any ideas on this anyone?

You can keep a 55 gallon barrel full of water with an insulated jacket around it. If you elevate it you can use a spigot on the barrel with a short hose to fill waterers. It takes a while for one to freeze solid because the ice acts as an insulator as well. One issue would be where you draw the water out.... I understand it doesnt get quite as cold as say Michigan or North Dakota. They do make heated hoses... They are expensive but I have a friend in Kentucky that uses one to fill her horses water buckets and she loves it. For the most part she drains all her hoses of water before storing them then brings them into the mud room.

Heated water hose

deb

 

[alibraun]

great ideas! I trying to get through all of them still. love the hawk proofing(pair of them here) n watering n feeding ideas, just finishing my own coop. will have to share with hubby all I have seen.

 

[LittleBits]

Quote:

Any ideas on this anyone?

You can keep a 55 gallon barrel full of water with an insulated jacket around it. If you elevate it you can use a spigot on the barrel with a short hose to fill waterers. It takes a while for one to freeze solid because the ice acts as an insulator as well. One issue would be where you draw the water out.... I understand it doesnt get quite as cold as say Michigan or North Dakota. They do make heated hoses... They are expensive but I have a friend in Kentucky that uses one to fill her horses water buckets and she loves it. For the most part she drains all her hoses of water before storing them then brings them into the mud room.

Heated water hose

deb

Might try to find a barrel. I can dip out the water OK, just looking to not have to carry it so far! Heated water hose needs electric? Just looked at the link - quite a bit above our budget, but a great investment for a regular farm. We just have 12 chickens. We drain our hoses, too, and put them away every winter. Outside spigots get covered.

Thanks, Deb!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

Any ideas on this anyone?

You can keep a 55 gallon barrel full of water with an insulated jacket around it. If you elevate it you can use a spigot on the barrel with a short hose to fill waterers. It takes a while for one to freeze solid because the ice acts as an insulator as well. One issue would be where you draw the water out.... I understand it doesnt get quite as cold as say Michigan or North Dakota. They do make heated hoses... They are expensive but I have a friend in Kentucky that uses one to fill her horses water buckets and she loves it. For the most part she drains all her hoses of water before storing them then brings them into the mud room.

Heated water hose

deb

OK here is a way to heat using a car battery.....

Link to car battery diagram

Looks pretty straight forward.... The electricity experts here should chime in on it....

deb

 

[LittleBits]

Quote: I think for our purposes, the insulated jacket, like a water heater thing, would be sufficient. I agree that it probably would never freeze solid and I can keep the top chopped of the ice. We don't get any prolonged cold weather here.Any ideas where I can find a CHEAP one?! I was just looking at "rain barrels" and "55 gallon drums" on ebay (all pick up), and a few other spots - whew-expensive! Free is best! May try Craigslist...

Thanks!