Heated Waterers

[timewaster]

I am looking for idea also. We bought the metal base heater, but hubby is afraid it will get too hot, since the metal water doesn't cover the whole base. Looking at the raised bucket, how do you keep your chicks from roosting on it?

 

[wamtazlady]

I am looking for idea also. We bought the metal base heater, but hubby is afraid it will get too hot, since the metal water doesn't cover the whole base. Looking at the raised bucket, how do you keep your chicks from roosting on it?

I am not using a bucket. I use a tote with lid instead of the bucket but it works the same. As to your question about how to keep the chicks from roosting on it. Mine jump up on the lid all the time. Yep, they poop on the lid. Doesn't bother a thing as the poop can not get into the water. If I wanted to keep the birds from jumping on the lid I could add an A shaped something to the top. With a bucket a cone shape would work well.

 

[GC-Raptor]

We bought the metal base heater, but hubby is afraid it will get too hot, since the metal water doesn't cover the whole base.

I am using the heated base with a 2 gallon metal fount and no problem with over heating. Its thermostatic controlled. I've been using for over a month. The only thing is you need to keep a clean contact between base and water fount for maximum heat transfer. My waters stayed liquid down to 9 F. The coldest so far. . . GC

 

[My1stChickens]

I am using the heated base with a 2 gallon metal fount and no problem with over heating. Its thermostatic controlled. I've been using for over a month. The only thing is you need to keep a clean contact between base and water fount for maximum heat transfer. My waters stayed liquid down to 9 F. The coldest so far.View attachment 1614323.View attachment 1614324. GC

I made something like this after reading an article... you need a cookie tin, a 60 watt bulb, a do-dad to screw the bulb into, and an extension cord. You just poke a hole through the side of the tin, for the cord. (I then used electrical tape to sorta seal it back up. Put the bulb in the do-dad, put the lid on the tin, plug the extension cord into one of those thermos cubes. Then I put my normal waterer on top of it. That 60 watt bulb is enough to keep the water from freezing.

Edited to add; the do-dad is called a bulb socket. I got in on Amazon for a couple $. For <$10 you can get one with the cord attached.

 

[analyticalblonde]

I was thinking about purchasing the K&H heated waterer until I read the most common "con" was trying to clean the interior of the container.

I live in high desert conditions and with this being my first rodeo raising chickens, I decided to go with what a reviewer said regarding the K&H heated waterer...he said, "Just get a heated dog water bowl!" So, I did...it is specifically designed for large, outside dogs...and my DH has made a small table for it to sit on so the girls won't get the water too dirty. Bonus...since its a bowl...it will be easier for me to clean outside in the frigid temps.

I have already gone through triple-digit summer days with them and they all survived all of the fanatical things I had to do so they wouldn't get heat stroke and now I'm battening down the hatches for the cruel winter that's approaching. Typical temps in the winter here can get to zero degrees and colder with wind chills that would freeze your fingers, toes, and ears off. All of my girls are both heat & cold tolerant but that doesn't mean they are heat & cold "proof".

BTW...I have no electricity out to my coop/run so we are trying an unconventional way of powering the bowl. We have on hand a Yeti1000 power pack that DH is going to be placing into a cooler. The Yeti1000 will generate a little heat which will keep it in its operational range. We also purchased the solar panel that compliments the power pack so that it will be on a constant recharge. Typically, we use the power pack when we go travel trailing but since over the winter, that's moot...we thought why not use it for the girls over winter. Don't know if it will be a successful endeavor but we will soon know. If it works, I think there will be a lot of people on this forum who don't have electricity in their coops/runs that may benefit from our rough science experiment

Nonetheless, I am still interested in hearing about experiences others have had with their heated waterers.

Thanks for the post!

 

[aart]

The Yeti1000 will generate a little heat which will keep it in its operational range. We also purchased the solar panel that compliments the power pack so that it will be on a constant recharge.

So is it normally charged up on an AC circuit?
You should start a new thread about the Yeti.

 

[analyticalblonde]

So is it normally charged up on an AC circuit?
You should start a new thread about the Yeti.

Hi @aart !

Yes...it is normally charged up on an AC circuit but also has the ability to be charged from solar.

This is one of the best purchases we made this year. It is not cheap though!

It is manufactured here in the USA, specifically in Bluffdale, UT. The company's name is Goal Zero and we have the YETI1000 Lithium Portable Power Station. This little beast is so cool! It has inputs for AC charging, inputs for charging from solar panels, 12V outputs, USB outputs, AC outputs, and has an interactive button and LCD screen to see its status. It also has a very small footprint so it can fit in really small spaces.

Its got gusto...335+ hours on 12V LED, 17+ hours for laptop, 17+ hours for mini-fridge plus more. We have used it when drydocking while camping so its on to use it over the winter to keep water from freezing. The solar panels we purchased separately.

As we put this all together, I'm going to keep a photo log and I am going to take your advice and write up the experience and how well it works (or not).

 

[twilightgecko]

I was thinking about purchasing the K&H heated waterer until I read the most common "con" was trying to clean the interior of the container.

good luck with this set up.. the water bowls i used last winter without any fuss.. of course i have electricity in the coop and in the pen.. i'm not sure of your set up, but i hope it works for you.. the bowls were the easiest thing i've come up with so far tho.. i would've liked the old style waters and a heated base, but those always rusted and i was changing water daily, because who wants rusty water? the water bowls might get a few shavings in them, but so easy to just dump, wipe and fill again..
good luck!
we get some bitter cold winters here in upstate N.Y. too..

 

[twilightgecko]

I am using the heated base with a 2 gallon metal fount .View attachment 1614323.View attachment 1614324. GC

i used this set up for a couple years, but no matter how many NEW waterers i bought, they all rusted fairly quickly inside.. i liked the heated base, but the rust spots grew to where morning water was rusty by evening, and daily changes is a pain..