Heated Dog Bowls vs. metal waterers ontop heater base

[Superior Chicks]

I need to be ultra conservative with space in my new coop. I have always had the heater base with metal water container ontop in the wintertime. But the heated dog bowls would save me sooo much room.

Any thoughts or experiences with the dog bowls? Are they hard to clean? Do they have to be completely disconnected to be cleaned?

Seems like the chickens would care less(NO chicks of course).

Any thoughts appreciated.

Ma

 

[hinkjc]

For large fowl birds, the heated dog bowl will work just fine. Remember the heating elements is on the underside, so place it on a hollywood block or bricks to ensure it doesn't come in contact with bedding material and cause a fire.

Jody

 

[patandchickens]

I used a heated dog bowl last winter, tho it was just for 3 (and then 2, sigh) hens. It worked really well, although I felt like it got a bit more bedding kicked into it than my usual 1 gal plastic waterer (just b/c it's a larger open area). What Jody said about putting it on a hard dust-and-bedding-free surface.

To dump, clean and refill mine, I brought a bucket into the pen with me, upended the waterbowl into the bucket making real sure to pour the water out the OPPOSITE side from where the cord goes through, wiped it with a rag, swished it out with a cup or so of clean water if it ws starting to get slimy, put it back the way it belonged and refilled it.

It will not hold enough water for significant numbers of chickens, though.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat