Idea on using Fishtank Heaters

[n2music]

I have researched relentlessly trying to find a good solution for keeping my chicken 5 gallon waterer from freezing during the winter. I have used the fish tank heater before but am concerned about the possibility of running dry and rupturing, possibly killing the flock, until I had a minor epiphany. I was watching with amusement as people tried using salt water in a 2 liter bottle to keep the chicken water from freezing only to see it fail time and again. Then it hit me, and maybe someone else has tried this, but why couldn't you fill a liter bottle full of water, insert the fish tank heater into the bottle full of water and seal the thing so that the heater is always in water? Then put the thing in your 5 gallon or whatever you use waterer, then plug it in to the thermonuclear

socket so it comes on below 35 and turns off at 45 without worry of electrocuting your flock? If this has been mentioned before, I apologize for mentioning it again....

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I am VERY careful with electricity in my coop, and that includes the creative use of heaters not meant for use out there. Every aquarium heater I've had says to use it at 'room temperature', not outdoors. I believe it! It's going to be safer to use a bucket heater, or a cookie tin type heater, that's designed for winter temps. Following directions is safer, and burning the coop down with birds inside is very bad! Mary

 

[CLutze27]

If your wanting something that is outdoor rated you could go with something like this.

https://www.heatingelementsplus.com...8JYVCLRBih-LtlqTqJLrZe3KDDmAaLolzmBoCF8jw_wcB

You could just wrap it around the outside of your bucket. They are designed to be used out doors or in cold locations. In my line of work we use them to wrap drain lines in walk in coolers and freezers as well as piping that is exposed. Obviously you wouldn't need 50' of it, and they make some that is self regulating so you just leave it plugged in year round and it will heat up and as the temp drops.

 

[Howard E]

OP:

What you want is a bird bath heater. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Allied-Preci...d=1488417455&sr=1-9&keywords=bird+bath+heater

I have this exact model and it kept my uninsulated plastic water bucket from freezing down to -5F, which is as cold as it got. Bucket needs horizontal nipples in it to keep working at those temps.

Note it cuts out above freezing temps and shuts off if the bucket goes dry.

 

[RonP]

I do not like mixing water with electricity.

That said, here are links to my solution that works great for me.


Forever Water Heater one that lasts.
Unfrozen Nipple Watering for those cold days.