Electric Waterers

[marymac]

I bought 2 new electric waterers to use this winter. They have been working good till this morning. It was probably close to 0 overnight. When DH went to feed the chickens he found some frozen water in the bottom, said it wasn't froze solid but had to add some hot water to get it thawed. The one in my bigger coop wasn't froze at all. Have any of you had this happen with your heated waterers? Could it have gotten so cold that the thermostat couldn't keep it from freezing. I don't know if it has burned out or not, but I guess I'll know eventually. If it is burned out, that don't say much for the quality of these waterers, as they aren't cheap. I would hate to think I spent that much money for something that didn't even last 1 winter. Any ideas about this?

 

[gmendoza]

I dont use them because our coop dont have electricty.Chickens dont need electricty.They generate 5btu's of heat per bird.

As for the waterers,just use the basic fill em up non electric ones.You still have to fill them up daily,just fill them with warmer water. Saves time and cost.

 

[marymac]

Quote:
I don't heat my coop, but I thought the waterers would be nice in winter, mayb they are not as good as I thought they would be.

 

[Baymen Moe]

mary, don't lose hope on your heated waterer's. I have a three gallon version and also had some skim ice in mine for the first time ever in two winter's. The temp this morning was -2. Last winter the lowest temp I had here was 5 above with no ice in the waterer.

I'd buy another in a heartbeat if I had to. It sure beat's having to refill several times a day.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Take a look at the thread "cookie tin water heaters". I made mine out of two steel water pans. I have a tall plastic water jug that sits on this heater inside an old tire. Temps here have been down to -5 so far, only a thin crust of ice on the drinking tray. This is inside my enclosed and very drafty run.

I saw a thread here once where a fella had dismantled one of those heated waterer things...the "element" was just a heating pad. They work well for some people, but I like my cookie tin heater, just replace a light bulb, and I'm back in business.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

This is my first winter with chickens and I'm using a heated waterer. So far so good. I really like it and the girls seem to also. I don't fill mine. It's a three gallon waterer and I fill it half full. Temps have been below 10 degrees.

 

[Deanner03]

We use the heated base...and had ice today. It was -29 in my car when I left for work this morning. Other than that, it's been fine.

 

[calicokat]

I"m on my second winter with a heated waterer (LOVE it!) And I did have one time this month when cleaned and put out fresh water, I didn't get the plug snugged up in there all the way. Next morning there was some ice on top of water and most of the reserve was frozen. Once plugged in right, it got back to regular soon.

 

[marymac]

Quote:
I think it may have been just really pushing it when it got that skim of ice. DH said he read something on it stating it was good up to a certain degree, and it probably just got too cold, as it seems to be working fine now. Thanks for the replies and the input.

 

[mons02035]

I just want to add that it may be possible (however slim) that the thermostat needs to be reset. My directions say to put the base in the freezer for a couple hours and then take it out and plug it in and see if it warms up.

I have the 3 gallon one too and I did not have it plugged in during the -20 degree night here. It got down to about 5 degrees in the coop and it froze solid, about 2 gallons worth. I just plugged it in, in the coop, and about an hour or so later, it was completely unfrozen. So, I'm not sure why you would have any ice to scrap off unless it is catching a draft from somewhere.