Keeping Your Coop Water From Freezing

[PaintedPony]

I really like the radiant heat idea. I have read about the light bulb, but I worry about it being so close to the ground and the dust/dirt/feathers. Will you please keep updating this thread on how it works? Do you know what temp the actual pad is at? I use a heat lamp plugged in to a thermocube so it's only on when it's close to freezing or below freezing. The radiant heat pad seems like it would be a safer option.

 

[Artanis]

It's working flawlessly. Plugged it into a Thermo Cube which turns it on at 35 degrees and off at 45. The coop temperature is staying at about 30 degrees even when it was 9 outside the other day. My intention was not to heat the coop, just keep the water from freezing but the coop is well insulated. Not sure how hot the surface of the panel is but you can touch it and not get burned. The waterer does not actually touch it, it's at least an inch away. Hope that helps.

 

[Artanis]

Well it got into the single digits last night and this morning. As low as 5 degrees. The coop got down to about 20 but more importantly the water didn't freeze!

 

[chookchick]

Artanis--what is the wattage on that heater? and how big is your coop? I'm using a heated dog bowl, like Lynn P., and so far I have been quite happy with it.

 

[Artanis]

It's rated at 150 watts. The coop is 8' x 5' x 7' high. All enclosed and the walls are insulated. Seems the price has been lowered since I purchased it. Just my luck!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009HMFPM/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

 

[waynesgarden]

I use the plastic 3 gallon heated waterer from Farm Innovations. First the positives: it is cheap enough, works well in the Maine winter, uses little electricity and holds enough water for my few birds that I only have to refill it every 4 or five days.

The design, however, can only be rated between poor and fair. The plastic water container locks to the molded base with the heating element by means of 4 small tabs. (It more wedges together than locks. A means of locking would have made this a very good product.) Filling the container requires inverting it, filling, attaching the base while upside down and then flipping the whole unit over. Filled, the unit weighs around 25 lbs and even the slightist twist to the top will almost certainly separate the top from the base. Words can not express the excitement of having 3 gallons of water pour down you while standing in the snow at -10 degrees F. (Actually, there were a string of words that came close to expressing the feeling.)

Going into the second year with this, I feel I've about mastered the art of turning the fully loaded waterer to its upright position. I have not drenched myself even once this year. I suggest buying this item early enough in the summer that you can practice your waterer flipping in between swimming at the beach and working on your tan.

Wayne

 

[ktm-don]

I found a used recessed lighting fixture at the local Habitat resale shop. Image attached of a similar fixture.
It was round, and already wired for a light bulb. It also contains a thermal shut-off, nice to know.
I screwed it down to a scrap of plywood, taped shut the electrical junction box. Thinking about adding a metal sheet on top of the plywood, but not too concerned about hi temps or effects of a busted bulb.

I fitted a 60W bulb, and it's kept the water from freezing at single digit temps. To the touch, it feels barely warm, but it's enough to do the job.
It also raised the inside temperature a few degrees in our insulated coop.

It's attached to a GFI circuit, so I feel pretty safe.

 

[bills]

So does this recessed fixture sit under your waterer, or over it?

A GFI should be mandatory for any wiring in the coop, either on the plug in, or the breaker, or both. Could save one going up in smoke..

 

[ktm-don]

It sits under the waterer. It's just about exactly the same diameter as the waterer.
The fixture faces down, just like it would in normal mounting. It's screwed to a plywood base.
I'd like to add a thermostat for energy savings.

-dhs

 

[dianneS]

I've been having trouble with freezing water too. I broke two waterers trying to break up the ice in them as well. I also had a foot warmer, that I removed the hard plastic heating panel from. I threw away the rest of the foot warmer, but saved the heating until because I thought I could find a use for it! Now I know what I can do with it! Thanks for the great idea!