Heated waterer suggestions

[Annalyse]

I get the chickens ready before sun rise and by the time they wake up water is most likely cold.

What's the best heated chicken waterer thing you've used?

Something that can outstanding clumsy chickens and WONT CAUSE FIRE. I think that's my biggest paranoia.

 

[jreardon1918]

Here is what works for us.

The water is kept under the raised coop. We have an outlet installed by an electrician in the run. We have a 250 watt stock tank de-icer in the bucket. I do check that the water is still flowing on the really cold days. We generally plug this in starting in November. Although it is temperature controlled and only goes on when needed.

Here is an article we did for winter prep.
Preparing the girls for winter

 

[K0k0shka]

There are a gazillion posts on this subject, and it comes up every winter. Try using the search first.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I use several different solutions. Here's my insight -

I have three outdoor rubber water dishes for my chickens, ducks, and goats. In one I have a floating de-icer and in the others I have a bucket de-icer which sits on the bottom of the bowls. All work great.

In my Silkie coop, I have a galvanized heated base. On top of that sits a 2 gallon galvanized waterer. This is used indoors only on a sand substrate.

In my barn I have a dog heated water dish. This is only really used when they are free ranging around the barn. I'm considering moving it into my main coop (indoors) to be used when the girls don't want to trek to the outdoor water bowls.

ETA - I almost forgot. I have made a heated base from a cookie tin and light bulb which also works great but it is getting harder to find incandescent bulbs.

 

[wamtazlady]

Many around here use a container, horizontal (not vertical) nipples, and a stock tank deicer. This year my container is a 14 gallon tote with lid. With only 6 chickens the container only needs refilled every couple weeks as the water stays clean. It's easy to see when they need water. It has gotten down into the -20s here and the chickens have had thawed water.

 

[Alaskan]

by the time they wake up water is most likely cold.

Cold water is fine.

The problem is if it freezes. A think crust of ice they will learn to peck through. However, chickens are not strong enough to peck through a thick layer.

If my water starts to freeze solid too quickly, then I start to use a bird bath de-icer that is safe to run dry, and safe to sit on plastic.

To reduce fire risk duct tape all cord connections so they can't pull apart. Also make sure you secure the plug in the socket so it can't be pulled out.