Heater for PVC waterer?

[hleone]

We plan to build a PVC waterer using horizontal poultry nipples. It will basically be one 4" PVC tube with three horizontal nipple waterers drilled into the bottom. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good heater/deicer for PVC tubes? Most of the bird bath deicers are round and are too wide to fit into the PVC tubes. I've seen some longer skinnier ones, but wonder what other people are using. We live in Minnesota with some pretty extreme winters. Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Aquarium heater?

 

[phryan]

There are some cable aquarium heaters (search for the phrase). Last year I ended up wrapping the PVC in roof heat wire which worked well, but plan to rebuild it with an internal heater cable for a cleaner install. It comes in various lengths, part will be in the PVC the rest would be coiled in the cooler (water storage).

Another option would be to create a loop in the PVC and use a pump to circulate the water, the pump will both move the water and heat it slightly from the motor. Adding a normal aquarium heater would work. This is option B if the PVC still freezes with the heat cable.