Heated Waterers

[EggMan207]

I'm looking to prepare for the winter. What are some good AFFORDABLE heated waterers from my hens? I have one coop with 9, and one who lives in her own coop.

Also, is a regular incandescent light bulb okay for winter heat and laying?

Should I use an sort of insulation or tarps (to prevent wind in the run) on the coop?

 

[VolailleAmant]

Hi TheoPain!
I suggest looking on used websites such as Craigslist or a Facebook garage sale site for waterers and heaters...They have them pretty often for a great price depending on where you are. Incandescent light bulbs are all I use for my chicken coop lighting, so that would do well! Tarps would do well do exclude any drafts in the chicken coop....Just make sure that the coop can breathe. Ventilation and drafts are 2 different things.
If it gets really cold where you live, it would be a great idea to add some insulation if your coop doesn't already have insulation. Straw bales work well!
Hope this helps somewhat!
-VA

 

[Folly's place]

In winter, I wrap the lower six feet of my run with two layers of the nearly clear plastic that comes on rolls, stapled to the framing, and then with 1x4 boards screwd over the framing. The upper foot or more of the run hardware cloth is not covered, so there's good ventilation. In spring, it all comes down, and can be reused for another year.
I use the heated bases for my metal waterers. I have one of those plastic waterers with the integrated heater, and keep it as emergency backup. It's miserable to fill!
Some people build 'cookie tin heaters' for their waterers very cheaply, but I'm sticking with the sealed prebuilt ones. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

A small incandescent or led or whatever light on a timer works fine for extending the light in winter. Mine comes on at 4 am and turns off at 8 am every day. Extra heat isn't needed unless you are VERY far north and have very fragile birds, like Seramas or maybe Silkies.
I'm wimpy about things electrical; it's all got to be safe and not short out and burn down my coop! Mary

 

[debid]

I have an incandescent shop light (cage around a bulb) on a timer for supplemental winter light. I add hours to their morning to keep them around 14. I was told don't use florescent bulbs but LED is OK.

As for keeping the water liquid, I drop a 250W "bucket de-icer" in my nipple water bucket. It's very safe and thermostatically controlled so it won't make the water warmer than necessary. Tested down to 0F so far and it's had 7 years in service without a problem.

I don't add tarps or anything around the run or coop but the structure is tucked into the edge of the forest so it already has good protection.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Following... I've been thinking about this as well, as I've been seeing either really expensive water-ers with built in heaters and are bottom fill, which is annoying... OR the drop in heaters.... Currently my birds get water from a 5 gal bucket with nipples. if the water is heated, at what temp will the nipples start to freeze?

 

[debid]

Following... I've been thinking about this as well, as I've been seeing either really expensive water-ers with built in heaters and are bottom fill, which is annoying... OR the drop in heaters.... Currently my birds get water from a 5 gal bucket with nipples. if the water is heated, at what temp will the nipples start to freeze?

I keep the bucket inside the coop so it isn't in the wind but no icy nipples at 0F. It doesn't get any colder here so IDK what the cutoff is, exactly. You do want to be sure that you don't have leaks because a leaking nipple will leave an ice stalagmite on the floor. I learned this after dropping my bucket and making a hairline crack in the plastic.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I keep the bucket inside the coop so it isn't in the wind but no icy nipples at 0F. It doesn't get any colder here so IDK what the cutoff is, exactly. You do want to be sure that you don't have leaks because a leaking nipple will leave an ice stalagmite on the floor. I learned this after dropping my bucket and making a hairline crack in the plastic.

The thing I'm also concerned about is that the hanging nipples aren't exactly the neatest... the birds peck or grab them and water flings everywhere. I can just see that turning into a ice mound under the water. Been thinking about the horizontal nipples because of this.

 

[debid]

The thing I'm also concerned about is that the hanging nipples aren't exactly the neatest... the birds peck or grab them and water flings everywhere. I can just see that turning into a ice mound under the water. Been thinking about the horizontal nipples because of this.

Mine are the vertical type. I've never had a problem other than when the bucket was cracked.

The same bucket de-icer will work for either type, though. I only paid ~$25 for the de-icer (Allied Precision brand) and since it isn't attached to the bucket, making a change wouldn't be difficult if you decided to try something else or (like me) drop your bucket ;-)

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Watching this thread too. First and foremost is safety. Secondly, I have 2 ducks that make an awful mess if the water is inside the coop, so I put the water basins out in the run. I'm having electric run in about 3 weeks and plan to have an outlet in the run and in the coop. Looked at the big waterer with built-in deicer and think there must be something better. It get below freezing here. Any suggestions?