Heated Waterer

[Haazegirl]

The blue bowl is working great, and the metal fount was again frozen this morning. I guess dogs get better quality products! (and cheaper!)

I'm leaving for the weekend and it's supposed to be in the upper 30's by then so the metal fount should work properly and supply plenty of water while I'm gone. What an ordeal!

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
I also use a heated water bowl.. only mine is plastic. We have had below zero temps here this year, but the water stays thawed,
Thankfully!

 

[Haazegirl]

Thermometer is saying 7 degrees still so tonight will be warmer than the rest of them! I'm hoping to see that the water is thawed by morning and the metal fount is working. Otherwise I'll have to make an unpleasant call to my father-in-law to tell him to not only collect eggs, but fill the water as well... He didn't sound to keen on picking eggs when I asked earlier.

 

[coralanna]

I remember in grade 3, yes that`s long long time ago that we had to do an exparement about freezing water. We had to use two ice trays and put boiling water in one and another from the tap at normal temps. We then had to print what we found out. The concesses was that the boiled water froze twice as fast as the water from the tap. Also that the ice was clear and harder than the tap water. So putting hot water in cold conditions makes it freeze faster. We also do this for the grand kids up here in Canada. When the temps are below -20 you boil water and pour it into a cup and go outside andd through it into the air and it turns into a cloud and no water hits the ground. If it`s normal water it just the same as doing it in the summer. So the boiled water wont keep the water from freezing longer but will actually make it freeze faster. When you need to know about cold, just as us friendly people from the north.

Alan

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
I've heard that, so I usually put out not cold, cold, water, but for sure not hot.
That's interesting..the water turns into a cloud..

That wold be fun to see, but I'm knocking on wood as I say that, because we have been cold enough, long enough here in Utah this year..so, looking forward to some of that 40 degree weather we've been promised this coming week.

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
Maybe that's why the Zamboni machine uses hot water--clearer ice so you can see the advertising underneath it. Actually I know it also has something to do with a smoother surface, but clearer ice doesn't hurt either I bet.

 

[coralanna]

Just a little more knowledge from the north. steel to plastic to foam. If there is frost on steel, anything warm and damp will stick to it. Wè`ve all watched Christmas story when Relphie`s friend was double dog dared to put his tongue on the frosted pole and he was stuck to it. Also dumb and dumber about frost on the chair lift. You wont stick to plastic so for all pets outside water in the winter, plastic should be used. Also if anyone has used an outhouse in the winter, ( old army days coming back) Those hard plastic seats are very cold to sit on and makes the task at hand hard to handle. Put a foam seat on because foam instently turns to the same temp what touches it. so get some spray foam and line the outside of the dish and make sure that the sides are covered with straw so the birds wont pick at it and the water will stay unfrozen longer because it only looses it`s heat through the top and not all around the sides. Another thing to use is a small cooler, lunch box size and fill that with water . They are cheap and will keep the water from freezing longer. This should keep water available to the chickens longer and should only need to be replaced twice a day.

Alan

 

[coralanna]

you are right about the zamboni. Also with the hot water it melts the ice enouph for the new water to bond with the old and it wont shatter when used. Also that it freezes faster and you can play on it after a couple minutes.

Alan

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
Ha, did I hear out house? Someone here is as old as I am? Actually, it was only in the 60's, but my grandmother had an out house because they live out in the back woods, no running water, had a pump from a well for drinking water..yummm, I loved that..anyway, out house had a wood seat if my mind remembers right....so don't remember any problems.

Anyway, she had chickens, that's why I do...great memories of collecting the eggs, and a mama hen with her eggs, then all these little fluffy things following her around..too cute. She lived in Virgina, we lived there for a while ourselves. Love the county there. I honestly don't remember how she kept water for them during the winter. She was always out taking care of them first thing in the morning and through out the day though...so, she must have done it the old fashioned way..take the water out, and take it out again.

 

[duluthmom]

I made a coop water heater that seems to be working very well. Today it is 0F outside and it was 20F in the coop. I bought a standard base cleat light socket from the hardware store and screwed it onto the center of a board about 12"x12". I attached a length of lamp cord to the cleat socket and added a plug end (hardware store). I swept away all the deep litter from the floor where I wanted to set the heater. Set down the board, and centered a 6" thick concrete block over the socket. Make sure there is no combustible bedding or straw in the open cell of the block. I bent the edges of a sheet of galvanized flashing to create a water shedding lid for the block. I set my plastic waterer on top. I changed the bulb to 75W when the temps dropped, but a 40W was keeping the water ice free just fine. All the extra heat keeps the concrete block radiating warmth all day. I think I spent $5 on the entire setup.

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