Keeping water from freezing

[spookyevilone]

Quote:
Maybe a solar charger attached to heat tape? Or hook the tape to a battery and the battery to a charger?

They make solar chargers for electric fencing.. wonder if that would work. Of course, the greenhouse idea should also work, but I'd want backup if we get any of the typical nasty -50F windchills. Brrr!

-Spooky (also in MN)

 

[silkiechicken]

Careful with cheaper fish tank heaters too, as soon as they get exposed to air, they can shatter. Had one cheap no name one once, and it didn't come with the safety shatter proof enclosure with auto off switch thing, and the turtles pushed it up half way out of the water and it blew up. I stick to the marineland "shatter proof" ones now, and well worth the 2x the cost of the no name ones.

However, it might be a lot of wasted energy vs a heated bowl, since they keep temps between like 68 and 84 vs the 36 or so that would be needed to keep the water flowing.

I just use rubber dishes and go out in the morning, throw it on the floor, pick up the empty dish and fill with warm water. Just end up with a pile of ice bricks lying about after a week or two of freezing weather. LOL

 

[LynneP]

Like katrinag and others, I'm pleased with my heated water bowl...

Farm Innovators, and has a covered cord to prevent pecking/chewing. I've heard it's good for ducks too. You can unplug it on warmish days to save energy.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Most are thermostatically controlled, they only turn on as needed to keep the water above 32*.

I could never get the birds to drink out of one of those. They were accustomed to their regular waterers. I guess if they were thirsty enough they'd have figured it out. They also kept kicking junk in there. I ended up cutting the bottom out of the bowl and I use it as a heated disk under a galvanized waterer.

 

[Sissy]

Jvls1942 thanks , your advice saved me before I made a mess of a perfectly good 5gal. waterer, the fish tank heater
went back and I got a red heat lamp to hang over the water.
I hope this will do.