Quote:
Be very cautious using aquarium heaters! If the level of the water in the bucket drops below the "safe water" mark on the heater the glass containing the heating element will crack and break into the water bucket. Exposed wires, broken glass, electricity and water are a very dangerous combination! Keeping the water level high in the bucket will be important if you use an aquarium heater.
My husband recommended getting a heavy duty 25 watt salt water aquarium heater and wrapping it in aluminum screen mesh so if the glass breaks it won't get into the water. Or perhaps looking for an aquarium heater which is encased in clear plastic rather than glass. There's an aquarium-keeper's supply catalog put out by Dr Fosters & Smith that has a lot of good stuff.
My coop's already insulated and the mesh-covered vents are near the roof, but I'm planning on surrounding it with old straw bales about 10' around to give them some exercise room and a windbreak. We can get a lot of snow in west h, and it's humid and cold (down to -10 sometimes).
Not sure what I'm going to do about water yet, though the nipple system sounded like the best option so far.
Be very cautious using aquarium heaters! If the level of the water in the bucket drops below the "safe water" mark on the heater the glass containing the heating element will crack and break into the water bucket. Exposed wires, broken glass, electricity and water are a very dangerous combination! Keeping the water level high in the bucket will be important if you use an aquarium heater.
My husband recommended getting a heavy duty 25 watt salt water aquarium heater and wrapping it in aluminum screen mesh so if the glass breaks it won't get into the water. Or perhaps looking for an aquarium heater which is encased in clear plastic rather than glass. There's an aquarium-keeper's supply catalog put out by Dr Fosters & Smith that has a lot of good stuff.
My coop's already insulated and the mesh-covered vents are near the roof, but I'm planning on surrounding it with old straw bales about 10' around to give them some exercise room and a windbreak. We can get a lot of snow in west h, and it's humid and cold (down to -10 sometimes).
Not sure what I'm going to do about water yet, though the nipple system sounded like the best option so far.