Frozen water bowls

[pheasantfrenzie]

I have made something similar to what you are talking about but make sure you have enough power that you don't blow your circuits. Also if you have to much power it will melt your bowls.

 

[Redgolden1]

Yes I'm going to get a couple more timers to offset the amount of heaters on and the bowls will be on a thick floor tile slate

 

[PheasantsFirst]

Yes I'm going to get a couple more timers to offset the amount of heaters on and the bowls will be on a thick floor tile slate

Wouldn't you be able to have them start around 5am and off around dusk? only problem that there might be is the light not being on able to thaw the ice in a hour or so.

 

[Redgolden1]

I'm sure I'm going to have to adjust the timers for the weather that's coming but I was thinking more like 3 am till 7 then run the other timer till eleven

 

[nxb161]

All spring, summer, and fall I've been happy with my water setup. Just a 5G bucket that I drilled 4 holes in the bottom and screwed in some water nipples. Once I knew it was getting cold I put in a 50W submersible bird bath heater inside the bucket. I wanted the water liquid, but not warm. This was good until we got a windy 22F day. Thankfully when I built the coop I had plenty of room in there for the 6 chickens, nesting boxes, roosts, that left an open area. I moved the waterer into the coop, and put an extra piece of plywood to block direct wind from going through the entrance to the nipples. It was in the upper teens yesterday and the nipples stayed thawed. In case there are really really really cold days I also keep two water bottles with nipples on them around so I coud just put one out at a time if need be.