McChooky
Free Ranging
I'd recommend a Rubber livestock water bowl( sm,med,large and ex large) Lining the blocks with mylar bubble wrap would trap more heat under the bowlI live in Kansas City and I blame the water supply. I had never had a rust issue until a couple years ago. Also the equipment is supposed to be American made but they cut corners also. I was raised on a dairy and never saw a bucket rusted up. Mine is just to carry water to the chickens and I would leave water in it over night. It is completely rusted up to the line I would leave water in it. As far as heating the water, I use a 40w bulb inside a concrete block and set the metal waterer on the hole. It never freezes. I don’t know how it would work with a plastic waterer as the don’t conduct heat like metal does.