Heated Waterer opinions?

[RonP]

Ron, what are your lowest winter temps? And what is a typical "cold snap" for you? (In terms of lows and how long those lows are sustained.)

I live in central NJ, about 10 miles west of the coastline. That said, I am subject to occasional Nor’easters with high humid conditions and an occasional 12 plus inches of snow. My cold season temperatures usually range in the 20 to 40F range, occasionally dipping into the teens, but very rarely below 0.

"Cold snaps", sustained temperatures below freezing, could easily last a few days, occasionally a week or more.

Coldest coop temperature recorded in the last dozen or so years was -6F where daytime temperatures reached the low teens. Perhaps 2 or 3 times in the last dozen years have I witnessed this occurrence (below 0F ambient temperatures).

My birds, water, and eggs, were still fine, nothing frozen. That was about 2 seasons ago, I have since stopped worrying about the cold. Everything is on autopilot.

 

[wamtazlady]

I use a 10 gallon tote, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank heater that is okay to use in plastic. Kept my water thawed down to -22F last year. Best advantage is that it only needs filled once a week.

You might want to read this article. A forum member took the time to rate the different types of waterers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/diy-chicken-waterer-3-compared.72579/

 

[chicken vet girl]

My waterers only freeze occasionally in the winter. Although I don't have a heated waterer, I prefer my chickens have warm water in the winter. What temperature should their water be?

 

[JDGreene]

My waterers only freeze occasionally in the winter. Although I don't have a heated waterer, I prefer my chickens have warm water in the winter. What temperature should their water be?

I would say anything above 60F will grow algae faster.

 

[Wise Woman]

For the first time in almost 20 years of chicken keeping, I finally bought one of those metal heated bases. I have a plastic waterer though so I also bought a large terra cotta saucer. I placed that on the heater and the waterer on the saucer. It hasn't been cold enough yet to see if this will work, but fingers crossed! I am tired of lugging warm water out every morning all winter long.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

As long as the plastic doesn't get to hot that should work just fine.
If the plastic waterer seems to be in danger of softening or melting just add a second terra cotta saucer with a thin layer of sand between the two.

 

[Wise Woman]

Thank you for the tip. I am hoping the saucer doesn't get too hot. I will be watching it closely. My heater doesn't turn on until temps hit 35 degrees and then it goes off automatically if it goes above that, so I am not expecting that it will not be on for excessive amounts of time, but you never know when it comes to weather.

 

[Folly's place]

I've been using the metal waterers on top of the heated bases, and haven't tried what you are doing this year. Given that it's probably a lot colder here, I'm still very interested in your results. It would be nice to use the plastic waterers in winter too.
Mary

 

[Wise Woman]

I will keep you posted. I have 4 large plastic waterers and did not want to get into purchasing yet more of them. So we shall see. Still in the 40s here at night so it hasn't had to come on yet.

 

[mosse71]

I've tried every type of water heater up here but all freeze. unfortunately even though i give water 2xs a day, most times they have to eat snow in between waterings. the realty of keeping birds in n. Maine.