Keeping water fountains thawed

[aart]

How is everyone keeping their waterers thawed out? I have the 1 gallon water fountains and I'm having to chip away the ice twice a day at minimum! I live in Michigan so I can only imagine it getting worse lol my boyfriend read to use shallow pans with ping pong balls in them (if the water is moving it won't freeze kind of concept), I tried it tonight but I fear they are going to jump in and then freeze! I would rather not use electric heaters if I can avoid it so any ideas are welcome!!! I have both chickens and quail and use the same type of waterers please help!!

If you can't have electricity you are stuck with changing out the waterers several times day.
Having multiple waterers so you can bring out a fresh one and bring the frozen one inside to thaw might help.

 

[iwiw60]

Thanks...what kind of thermometers do you have in your water buckets?
Those are 2 gallon buckets?

They're 2-1/2 gallon buckets. I don't use a thermometer inside the water bucket...it's either thawed and flowing or it's frozen. I do have to say that when I reach my hand into the bucket the water feels somewhat warm. Each morning when I go to let the girls out into the run and give them either their warm oatmeal or hard-boiled eggs for breakfast, the first thing I do is "flick" one of the water nipples....water's flowin' !!! Aaaah...all's right with the world!

 

[aart]

Quote:

Quote: So you don't really know what the water temp is.

...am just very curious to what water temp different heating devices maintain so always ask.

 

[mgarifo87]

Thanks Aart, we are hauling 5 gallon buckets twice a day for now until we can decide how we want to do electric heaters, we can use electricity we were just hoping to avoid raising the electric bill

but oh well. I'm not liking the pan idea anymore than the plastic fountains but it will have to do for now. Hopefully we will get something figured out soon and be better prepared for next winter! In the meantime anyone have ideas on running some kind of waterer from the inside wall of our garage to the outdoor coop! Just a thought

 

[iwiw60]

So you don't really know what the water temp is.

...am just very curious to what water temp different heating devices maintain so always ask.

The packaging and instruction page that came with mine state that they will turn on when outside temperature hits 38 and turn off when outside temperature hits 42.

 

[aart]

Quote: Ahh, I see now where you came up with 40 for water temp, thanks.

 

[aart]

Thanks Aart, we are hauling 5 gallon buckets twice a day for now until we can decide how we want to do electric heaters, we can use electricity we were just hoping to avoid raising the electric bill

but oh well. I'm not liking the pan idea anymore than the plastic fountains but it will have to do for now. Hopefully we will get something figured out soon and be better prepared for next winter! In the meantime anyone have ideas on running some kind of waterer from the inside wall of our garage to the outdoor coop! Just a thought

How many birds do you have?
My 15 only drink between 1/2 and 1 gallon a day, I used to use the 1 gallon plastic waterers, much easier to carry and quicker to thaw out-tho you can't bang on them when frozen.

Where is the 'inside' garage wall in relation the coop?
Post pics?

 

[iwiw60]

Ahh, I see now where you came up with 40 for water temp, thanks.

Yes....all I know is my water is not frozen ... I can open the lid, put my hand in there, and it feels warmish...works for me!

 

[Sandrachx]

my warming stand for metal waterer - cookie tin from resale shop, clamp light from Lowe's-$7, 40 watt light bulb. square sides of cookie tin hold the weight of the 2 gallon water fount:

 

[MadAngler]

As you live in snow country as I do, you really need to look into some form of heated waterer for sure. As for myself, I have 2-1/2 gallon white plastic buckets with horizontal water nipples. I use what they call mini stock tank water heaters and have had no problems at all. Right now it's 4:00 a.m. and the outside temp is reading minus 4 degrees, but their waterer is functioning fine. Here's a few pics to show you what I did:




If you're interested in the how-to's on making this style of waterer look below here for my BYC page on making them. I wish you all the very best whichever way you decide to go...stay warm!!!

I use the exact same setup (except my bucket is a square kitty litter bucket). It is about 6F right now. The bucket is warm and the nipples are still flowing.