How do you keep your water from freezing?

[pasuit]

Okay...update of the water saga at the KettermanHillCoop... Insulation board didn't match up to the prolonged arctic freeze. So...I bought a heated dog bowl and inverted it. Then set the gravity waterer on top of the upside down dog bowl. It worked like a charm.

I'm just infuriated that we all even have to go through all this nonsense of inventing ways to keep the water from freezing. Why can't Farm Innovators (the folks making those heated gravity waterers) just bump up the dang wattage???? They obviously don't work when it gets chuckin' freezing out. Take the design of the dang dog bowl and make it the bottom of the waterer!

Rant over...

 

[pasuit]

Good thinking.

 

[Cynful481]

This is my setup.View attachment 1206003. I took an old 5 quart dutch oven and installed a bottle lamp kit with a 43 watt halogen bulb.View attachment 1206004.plugged into a Thermo-cube.View attachment 1206005.
It kept my 2 gallon fount unfrozen down to -13F two nights last winter. I also have higher wattage bulbs if needed. The bulbs lasted about 40 days during the coldest part of winter.View attachment 1206013. GC

Love this idea!!!!

 

[pasuit]

A few Years ago I Made 3 Heaters for 2 gallon metal fonts Using Large cookie tins, old lamp cords and the recepticals from the lamps. JUst loosened the bulb recepticle and cord. Had to cut the cord to get them out of the lamp. I cut the cord about 1' from the plug. Keep the connectors you take from the recepticle to secure it inside the tin. Drilled a hole in the side of the cookie tin.on Put the receptical inside the tin and put the cord through the hole starting inside out. Forgot, put one set connector on cord before starting through hole and the other side outside. tighten both sides to secure bulb and splice cord to male end. Install 60 watt bulb. close lid.

 

[JerryR708]

My chickens water only freezes during the hours they are sleeping when its dark and very early in morning before they wake up. I'm out there at 6:30am or 7:00am to dump out the ice water and refill the container. By then, the sun is out, will usually get warmer and not freeze again until the following early morning. This has worked for me over the last 2 years, but may not work in your particular area.

 

[RodNTN]

I switched to a heated waterer 2 years ago, and am so glad I did!

 

[wamtazlady]

I use a 10 gallon plastic tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. Needs filled once a week for 12 chickens. I can fill it with a hose that is in the well house. Stayed thawed even when it was -22 F last winter.

 

[Callender Girl]

I use a heated dog watering dish for the ducks, an electric chicken waterer for two of the coops and I dump the black rubber dishes for everyone else. Something for everybody!!

Each has advantages and disadvantages -- and all remind me of why I like summer better than winter!

 

[aart]

This has worked well for me for 4 winters now....plan on setting it up again this winter.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Following along to see if you find a solution. I'm afraid I'm not much help because I use plain rubber bowls and re-fill them 3x a day.

wow. 3 times a day? i thought i had it bad with refilling twice a day...
3 times a day is a lot!