Heated water bowl recommendations?

[CityslickerHomestead]

I have stopped buying heated dishes/buckets and instead got a bird bath de-icer to place in my water buckets. It's easier to clean that way and, hopefully, less likely to break.

This is what I use: https://farminnovators.com/products/premium-birdbath-de-icer/

This 150 watt version keeps an entire 2-gallon bucket ice-free. These do have a three-year guarantee, but some stores might have an even better protection plan you can purchase.

I bought a cheap de-icer off Amazon years ago and put it in storage after one season, but pulled it out last week after the bowl died. It was dead too.

I think my problem is buying poor quality.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I bought a cheap de-icer off Amazon years ago and put it in storage after one season, but pulled it out last week after the bowl died. It was dead too.

I think my problem is buying poor quality.

Yes, you get what you pay for. Even still, the better name brands don't last as long as I'd like.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

Getting the right device is important (and I am loving this waterer: https://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/heated-poultry-waterer-with-side-mount-nipples/p/16801/?v=2, the smaller size means I have to refill more often, but I think it also means the water stays warmer because it's closer to the heating element).

But you might also look at your setup. Is your waterer exposed to the wind? I was really shocked how, once I put my waterer in a location that is shielded from the wind, all of a sudden it wasn't freezing anymore, even in really cold temps.

Where I live we get down to -40 so protecting it from wind in those conditions doesn’t make a difference.

With that said, their run is entirely wrapped in 6 millimeter plastic wrap, to block all wind. The run is also covered. It sometimes acts like a greenhouse on sunny days, and I have to let the chickens out for fresh air because I blocked it a little too well. I hate when snow blows in the run. The chickens do too.