Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[aart]

Quote: I use a 50W aq heater in a 3gal jug with horizontal nipples.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples
Which uses less power would have to be tested with a killawatt.....lots depends on situation and setup.

@Leahs Mom did you check how warm that 250w kept the water?

I was more comfortable with the aq heater to keep water warm for HN's....and it only used about $3 a month of power.

 

[GardenNut]

I have a birdbath heater I'm going to try.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I didn't check the water temp but it was not over warm to the touch. The 250 that I used was made for bird bath or bucket and it had a thermostat that was supposed to shut it off at 45 degrees I believe. I'd have to go look.

 

[bruceha2000]

Does any one know if a 250 watt submersible heater is sufficient for a 5 gallon bucket?

A lot depends on how the water is used.

• Nipples in a bucket?
• If so what kind? The pins on my saddle nipples will freeze when it gets to about +15F with a 150W stock tank heater. At that point I switch to the aquarium heater set at about 70F and that is good to about -15F. My girls water is in a 5 gallon insulated drink cooler and is constantly circulated through the nipple pipe back to the container. The pipe is buried in the bottom of the nest box and insulated, only the pins stick out the bottom. BUT there is a fair distance between the pin and the actual pipe with saddle nipples. I've also read that the horizontal nipples tend to be less prone to freezing. Didn't see that until well after I had made mine.
• Is the bucket insulated?
• Is it covered to keep the heat in?

 

[Blooie]

WHAT???? You mean you people aren't heating your waterers with heating pads? Shame shame shame!!

 

[bruceha2000]

Oh Blooie, you just KNOW that wouldn't work with the winter temps you and I have.
Nice try at getting the thread back on topic though

 

[Blooie]

Now, Bruce, water heating is kinda sorta close to chick heating.

So it's okay if folks are looking to find better ways to warm water....been there myself!

 

[azygous]

WHAT???? You mean you people aren't heating your waterers with heating pads? Shame shame shame!!

Uh, excuse me. (As she raise her hand) I just bought a cheap. $9 one-speed heating pad at Wal-mart and tied it to my nipple waterer to keep the nipples from freezing. I had a chance the last two nights to test drive it since the temps got waaaay down below freezing. It worked splendidly.

 

[Blooie]

I KNEW I loved you for a reason!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Uh, excuse me. (As she raise her hand) I just bought a cheap. $9 one-speed heating pad at Wal-mart and tied it to my nipple waterer to keep the nipples from freezing. I had a chance the last two nights to test drive it since the temps got waaaay down below freezing. It worked splendidly.

I'm very tired. time to toddle down the hall to bed. I read this last post, not knowing that brooding chicks had segued into heating water. Missed the word waterer..... Um... glad it worked out for you azygous.