HELP! need a cordless way to keep water thawed!

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Also interested in this; I have a birdbath I’ve been looking for a solar/cordless heater for for years, so I can remove the tripping hazard that is the massive extension cord leading to the current heater. Not had any luck yet.

Depending on how your waterer is set up, could you pack compost around it? Let the heat of decay keep it warm(er)?

 

[Knobby]

I've been carrying 15 gallons of water to my coops every day since it's been snowing to make sure the flocks have fresh water. I bought 2 complete solar power systems on Amazon, but have yet the time to install them. Basically, each have 2 100watt solar panels, a charge controller, an inverter and a 100 Ah LifePo battery. I also purchased 2 additional batteries, giving me 4 batteries to work with. With that said, I am hoping to be able to power up a few heated waterers, and light up the coop area with LED lightings.

 

[mefly2]

Since most electrical heating units are resistive in nature (larger current draw), it's not likely that a solar panel / battery / array would fill your needs. My suggestion would be to buy underground rated 12 g with ground wire so that you can bury it next spring when the ground thaws. In the meantime, don't just lay it on the ground but rather put in some periodic t-posts to keep it up and off the ground.

 

[Harley94087]

My coop is about 300 feet from my house and up a hill and has no electric. I have been hearing that this winter is going to be freezing where i live (half an hour or so from St Louis) and i have yet to find a cordless water heater with a majority of good reviews! since i leave for school at 6:10 AM, i don't have time to change the water before i go! please help!
-sincerely, izzyanchickies1

Recently saw a person use a deep hole with composting manure in the bottom, then the water bucket on top. With most of the mass underground, and the heat of the compost (That would improve by putting a pvc air pipe down alongside the bucket), your water ought not freeze. Cheap fix, good luck.

 

[Mariahlyn]

Recently saw a person use a deep hole with composting manure in the bottom, then the water bucket on top. With most of the mass underground, and the heat of the compost (That would improve by putting a pvc air pipe down alongside the bucket), your water ought not freeze. Cheap fix, good luck.

I saw the article. Do you have the link by chance?

 

[perkolator]

I don't have this freezing issue in CA, but was recently on the Run-Chicken website and saw they have a oil-lamp-powered water heater for icy conditions. Seems like a very simple setup using zero power, that could work for many peoples' situations in winter; could probably even DIY something cheaper but it looks pretty well constructed. https://run-chicken.com/heater/?srsltid=AfmBOook_hJM9pAksVvkNsT3XDzsB6tPVUmPfqALQYnLjzfhLgnV9U3f

 

[KyCoop]

I run the bucket brigade in the winter. This morning my waterer broke as I was filling it in the bathtub. The other waterer was hanging frozen in the run. It was negative 1 this morning.vvwhat to do what to do. I didn't have time to go to the store and make it to work on time. I grabbed the biggest bowl (a mixing bowl) I could find and took it out there. I had to kind of scoot it around in the run until it sat level. I crossed my fingers and hoped it would not freeze before they could get a drink. When i got home i went to give them water. To my shock the water was not frozen at all. It was a little dirty from being "in the ground" but not frozen.
I think I'm going to make an inground type water system. Seems to work.

 

[cbenfield1177]

Amen!!

Even if they did get up at 4 am to change water it would be froze again before the sun comes up and the chickens are out and about

 

[Kiki]

I saw the article. Do you have the link by chance?

@R2elk will be happy to answer any questions you may have about it:

Article 'Alternate method to prevent water freezing.' https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/alternate-method-to-prevent-water-freezing.73180/