Rubber pans are the easiest, but we have to refresh the water every day. We use the I've cube to make a smoothie! JK. We've also used a metal gravity water on a cinder block, with a light bulb down in it. Water ready never froze, but the top would freeze on so we couldn't refill. The best was a 10 watt light in the hole of a cinder block, with a small square of sheet metal covering the hole, to spread out the heat. On top we used a plastic gravity water, with the screw-off gasketed lid. Worked great, but there were times when it froze due to cold snap, or light failure.
Best solution is a rubber pan, on the metal plate, on the cinder block, with the light inside. It elevated the pan of the ground, so it stays cleaner. We hung a bucket a couple inches above the pan, to keep birds from perching on the edges and either flipping the pan, or pooping in it. If power/light failed, then we simply popped the ice cube out, solved the problem and we were back in business. Last year we used a super-bright LED, that consumed 17 watts, which seemed to work pretty well.
Wish we could use the Little Giant fount in the winter!
Best solution is a rubber pan, on the metal plate, on the cinder block, with the light inside. It elevated the pan of the ground, so it stays cleaner. We hung a bucket a couple inches above the pan, to keep birds from perching on the edges and either flipping the pan, or pooping in it. If power/light failed, then we simply popped the ice cube out, solved the problem and we were back in business. Last year we used a super-bright LED, that consumed 17 watts, which seemed to work pretty well.
Wish we could use the Little Giant fount in the winter!
