ice free water

[buddy#2]

I don't have electric at my chicken pens. I only have a few weeks of freezing weather here so I built a small wooden box with a hole cut in the top big enough to hold the waterer. Put in some sort of insulation (hay) and a large hand warmer. The hand warmer lasts about 10 hours. They don't drink water at night so it doesn't mater. Just keeps water from freezing during the day so they can drink a little. Been doing this for 3 years. I even have one waterer in a plastic pot for plants. fits perfect in opening of pot. A rock in the bottom to hold it down, some hay, a hand warmer and waterer. Chickens drink all day in 20 degree weather. Plus it keeps the waterers up off the ground helping to keep them clean and the chickens don't loose as much water out of their beaks when drinking. They loose too much when waterer is on the ground trying to dip their beaks in it and hold water til they get their heads up.

 

[Farmer Benjii]

awesome idea

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I put in a 100W bulb (mistake), my husband says it boiled the water out of the waterer

A 100 watt bulb wont generate enough heat to boil water.
It spilled somehow

http://www.reptileuvinfo.com/html/watts-heat-lights-lamp-heat-output.html​

 

[Tala]

Ok if I'm hearing this right your new pan was a dollar or two, your aquarium heater was fifteen bucks alone with an unknown degree of safety, and you added a twelve dollar thermocube to the outlet as well = $29

One heated 50watt dog bowl with heavy duty cord and built-in thermostat costs $20 at TSC - pre-built and UL listed/approved for this type of outdoor application.
Just sayin

 

[Eastins Eggs]

We use 250 watt utility de-icer from TSC or Orscheln farm and home in a 7 to 15 gal plastic utility pan. They are safe for plastic or metal containers and will turn off if the water container goes dry so it wont burn up. Here is the web site for the heaters.
www.farminnovators.com