How to Heat Water with No Running Electricity?

[joclovesbirds]

We are moving and will be turning about half the existing 8x10 shed into a coop for 6 hens. There is no power running to the shed. How should I heat their water bowl for the winter? I am in southern MN, winters can get cold here. And water will definitely freeze. Solar power won't give me enough power I don't think, but what about a generator? Too loud and/or expensive? I would rather not run an extension cord across our yard. We'll be on a quarter acre lot and the shed is on the other end of our backyard. Any ideas are welcomed and appreciated!

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I don't have experience with freezing waterers but sometimes keeping the surface of the water moving/agitated helps. However, this likely won't help the further it gets below zero.

The two options I've seen are heated dog bowls and fish tank heaters. But both will likely need a power source.

 

[DobieLover]

We are moving and will be turning about half the existing 8x10 shed into a coop for 6 hens. There is no power running to the shed. How should I heat their water bowl for the winter? I am in southern MN, winters can get cold here. And water will definitely freeze. Solar power won't give me enough power I don't think, but what about a generator? Too loud and/or expensive? I would rather not run an extension cord across our yard. We'll be on a quarter acre lot and the shed is on the other end of our backyard. Any ideas are welcomed and appreciated!

How far from your electric panel is the shed? I would just send a hard wire out to the shed from a circuit without much load or put a new circuit in your panel if the distance is 70' or less.