Keeping a heated winter watering bucket clean ,,,

[eselick]

Hi
I live in Canada and last year I used a light bulb in a ciment block under my metal watering container. That kept the water at a good temperature but the heat caused the water to get pretty funky and when the bulb burned out it was a real pain to change.

This year, after looking at the alternatives I decided to get a 2 gallon heated bucket with an open top. I only have 2 chickens so there's log of water, probably enough for a week. (There was a lot of negative reviews about the heated chicken watering can so I avoided that.)

The heated bucket does a great job of keeping the water from freezing but the problem is that either poop or food or feathers get into the water. I suspect the chickens perch on the edge and do their stuff :-(

Any and all ideas for keeping the water clean will be most appreciated.

Thanks
Elliot

 

[rainbowrooster]

Try a lid with a hole cut in it that is big enough to allow the birds to get their heads through to drink. I did this with ducks to keep them from swimming in the water.

 

[RonP]

Try a lid with a hole cut in it that is big enough to allow the birds to get their heads through to drink. I did this with ducks to keep them from swimming in the water.

Or suitable sized fencing.

 

[eselick]

Thanks. I wonder if they just wouldn't perch on the lid and still poop through the hole.

I've just had an idea to put the bucket inside of a wooden box with an opening on one vertical side at the same height as the top of the bucket. The opening could be square about 5" wide by 3" or 4" high.

I don't think they would perch on a small vertical opening lilke this but I wonder if anyone has any comments or see any problems with this approach.

 

[RonP]

Sounds like a workable plan