How to keep waterer unfrozen without power

[GracePoultry]

If you have more time than money think about a Russian fireplace kind of set up. The water bucket would have to be nestled in heat retaining mass, rock,gravel, and sand. Water, brick, concrete, then find a way to heat it for a few hours. Insulate all around leaving just the water surface or part of the water surface open for drinking.

Can you not just run an extension cord to the coop? Some voltage drop of course but not enough to harm a resistance load like a cheap water heater/aquarium heater, or just a fifty watt incandescent light bulb running in a cookie tin to serve as a base for the water dish. Insulate where possible of course.

Thanks! i haven't heard of a Russian fireplace!

I did run an extension cord for 3 years but my parents won't let me use them anymore because of how muddy they get

 

[Al Gerhart]

Thanks! i haven't heard of a Russian fireplace!

I did run an extension cord for 3 years but my parents won't let me use them anymore because of how muddy they get

Put them in pvc pipe or get a GFI that plus into the wall outlet, it will prevent any shock danger.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Here is a noe power idea for the run.

It doesn't work. I have no idea why people make videos like this.

 

[saysfaa]

It doesn't work. I have no idea why people make videos like this.

Please explain why you concluded it doesn't work.

 

[Krugerrand]

Please explain why you concluded it doesn't work.

I have no doubt it would work .... but there's no way my back could manage digging a 4' hole like that.

 

[saysfaa]

I have no doubt it would work .... but there's no way my back could manage digging a 4' hole like that.

I also have back issues and am very sadly out of shape. This hand digger allowed me to dig a 3' hole in about 15 min. Our frostline is about 3'. In sandy soil, though.

For clay, I would rent the motorized auger type. Maybe. Or just accept it will take a looong time. Iit can be done, though, my kids have done it through super heavy clay in a few hours.

 

[paintedChix]

It doesn't work. I have no idea why people make videos like this.

While I have not done this myself, in my teen yrs, I did see similar to this done w/ stock tanks in CO, MT & NE. Those were large tanks & frost lines much, much deeper.

This video brought back a lot of memories. I need to note down, for memories sake, other techniques I now remember...

Out west, on LARGE expanses of land, this technique is still utilized. I can't remember if my step dad ever said they used this or not. My Step-dad & Mom managed cattle & 3 man crew on a 10,000+ acre ranch in MT for 5 years or so before moving further north & buying a "small" 20 acre spread. It was the last time he handled cattle & large tract land resources. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit there as we were stationed in GE @ the time.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Please explain why you concluded it doesn't work.

It would be great if we could just dig a deep hole place a bucket of water over it and it didn't freeze. If it did everybody would be doing it. If you watch his videos he ends up putting bubblers in the water. So no, it doesn't work.

 

[Krugerrand]

It would be great if we could just dig a deep hole place a bucket of water over it and it didn't freeze. If it did everybody would be doing it. If you watch his videos he ends up putting bubblers in the water. So no, it doesn't work.

The surface froze, which can be somewhat expected. That's why he suggests a board to cover it overnight. There is a considerable difference between the bucket over the hole vs the bucket sitting on the ground. Bubblers won't do anything if the water isn't kept warm.

Even my heated water bucket with horizontal nipples will freeze with too much wind blowing over the nipples.

I'd be curious what some type steel mesh or rods linking the top and bottom might do for that.

 

[saysfaa]

It would be great if we could just dig a deep hole place a bucket of water over it and it didn't freeze. If it did everybody would be doing it. If you watch his videos he ends up putting bubblers in the water. So no, it doesn't work.

I guess it depends on your definition of working. I consider "not working" to be like trying the salt water bottle method - the water froze just as fast with the salt water bottle as without it. Vs "working" to be the water didn't freeze at air temps ten or fifteen degrees lower than the freezing point of water. Its like saying an aquarium heater works when it can keep 3 gallons thawed at 20 degrees F even if it can't keep a thousand gallon tank thawed at those temps.

This method worked better with the covers and even better with the bubbler. Like down to below zero overnight.

It worked without those down to the mid or low 20's. I can't watch it again right now to be precise.

He might not need the adjustments if he was willing to adjust the dimensions of the water pan or the dimensions/shape of the hole. Or was a climate zone or two milder and willing to accept it would work nearly all the time.

He is in a climate where the frost line is 4' down. That is a LOT of cold.