Heated Waterer Dilemma

[Peepsi]

Hot water freezes faster than cold.

That depends. The whole "hot water freezes faster than cold water" has not been easy to prove consistently in lab experiments.

"It all depends on how fast the cooling occurs, and it turns out that hot water will not freeze before cold water but will freeze before lukewarm water"

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-it-true-that-hot-water/

So yeah. I stand behind my hot water comment. (mainly because it worked for me).

Edit: Lukewarm water, not hot. But hot water doesn't freeze before cold water.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Will have to try this. It's my understanding that water that has been boiled will freeze faster than water that hasn't, has something to do with boiling the air bubbles out of it or something. Hm. Sounds like a science experiment for The Kid ....

 

[aart]

But hot water doesn't freeze before cold water.

Did when I tested it.
See other post I quoted...follow it to that discussion.
Tho it really doesn't matter...at temps that are discussed by OP and other.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My DH says hot water is in motion due to convection and so it loses heat faster than cold water. He's really smart and this makes sense to me. Hot water is dynamic and cold water is static. Now I really going to have to try this!

 

[Chad Oftedal]

Have tried it, on a pond, doesn't work.

Hot water freezes faster than cold.



This has worked well for me for 5 years now, down to -12°F.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

Have you ever run this dry?
Got pics?

This is a full shot view. I only have 8 hens, so 4.5 gallon capacity works out pretty well - I don't think I've ever been close to running out. The glass heaters could break if not submerged, but the solid ones won't. They could possibly fail, I guess, but really the solid ones are just more of a "warm bar". I've used Aqueon Pro before and found them to be a well built, solid heater.

This is with the lid off for filling. I leave enough slack in the heater cord so I can lift the lid off and the heater will stay suction cupped to the bottom. The heater in there now is just a small one I had on hand. It's a fixed 68 degree heater, rated for like a 10 gallon tank. I think it might be 25 watt? I know it isn't over 50 watt for sure.

Anyway, it's been a simple setup for me. The girls aren't bothered by it, and I imagine they rather enjoy the room temp water. Then again, it's hard to say with birds.

 

[aart]

This is a full shot view.

Nice!
Clear container makes it easy to see water level, I'd be insulating anyway tho.
What kind of temps do you see at your location?

 

[SilkieLover7]

I cannot for the life of me find a heated waterer that works well for chickens. I've purchased the plastic hanging heated waterer but had several issues (cord not long enough, spillage while hanging, etc.), and most recently I've had a heated dog dish. The dog dish has worked well up until recently when my chickens have decided to perch and crap in it. It also doesn't hold enough water for my birds. So now I'm thinking of purchasing either a larger dog dish or a heated base. Does anyone have experience with the metal heated bases likes this one?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/farm-innovators-heated-base

I'm tired of wasting money on junk poultry products (Lord knows there is a lot of junk out there). I want something that works to -20 degrees, and something built to last. Should I go with a larger dog dish or go with the metal base? Or something else?

I currently use a heated base, and as long as it is not below 0, it normally works fine!

 

[NNYchick]

I cannot for the life of me find a heated waterer that works well for chickens. I've purchased the plastic hanging heated waterer but had several issues (cord not long enough, spillage while hanging, etc.), and most recently I've had a heated dog dish. The dog dish has worked well up until recently when my chickens have decided to perch and crap in it. It also doesn't hold enough water for my birds. So now I'm thinking of purchasing either a larger dog dish or a heated base. Does anyone have experience with the metal heated bases likes this one?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/farm-innovators-heated-base

I'm tired of wasting money on junk poultry products (Lord knows there is a lot of junk out there). I want something that works to -20 degrees, and something built to last. Should I go with a larger dog dish or go with the metal base? Or something else?

I’m looking too. I have used the heated dog dish for the last 2 years but set it up yesterday and it had slushy water this morning and we are only hovering at 28 degrees so I need something else. Although the dish worked at keeping water thawed below zero, it gets dirty fast and my silkies get their crest and beards wet and frozen. They didn’t seem to mind and no frostbite so I went with it. Now that I need to replace it I’m debating on getting the metal fount and base but it’s expensive and if it doesn’t last or work below 10 degrees that’s not worth it.
What is everyone’s experience with the metal fount and base? Is the investment worth it, we frequently have near or below zero temperatures and I don’t heat the coop, just block wind.

 

[GC-Raptor]

What is everyone’s experience with the metal fount and base?

I bought one last Autumn. It got down to -7 F twice last Winter, -1 inside coop. No ice. . Mine also says it works down to 10 F. . I got it at TSC. The key to it working properly is a clean base and bottom of fount. Dirt, shavings, straw, even a pebble in between can limit heat transfer. Metal to metal contact is key. GC

 

[NNYchick]

I bought one last Autumn. It got down to -7 F twice last Winter, -1 inside coop. No ice.View attachment 1956861. Mine also says it works down to 10 F.View attachment 1956873 . I got it at TSC. The key to it working properly is a clean base and bottom of fount. Dirt, shavings, straw, even a pebble in between can limit heat transfer. Metal to metal contact is key. GC

This is the setup I’m looking at. How do you fill it, does the top lift off?