Methods for keeping water from freezing

[Roxannemc]

Couple inches in. Humm not high enough like 33 deg but not really deep either..wonder what it is say 6 inches down?.Guess top would freeze up though Anyway.Thanks for trying and letting us know

 

[Roxannemc]

Watts are energy used regardless of type of resistance.

A 60 watt bulb will have a surface temperature of around 260F at 70F ambient.

In a cookie tin, the heat is further distributed.

Without an additional energy source, your tin will never be hotter than the surface of the bulb.

FYI dry paper will start to "smoke" at 451F, then need an ignition source to ignite.

Thanks for the science info Ron..my New thing I learned today!or things that is.You never can have too much knowledge of the world.

 

[EagleEyes]

Ok, it's 4:00pm now and the outside temp is 10deg, coop is 21 deg and the bedding is 21 deg, so there you have it.

 

[RonP]

Deep litter in the coop does have it's benefits!

 

[urbanindiana]

I also made a cookie tin heater and it was easy, cheap and works great! Bought the tin at the dollar store and the light from Home Depot. The light socket is a bottle to lamp kit, $10. No need to paint or do anything to the inside of tin, keep it simple. I couldn't find the big tin so using smaller one and it is working just fine.
I use a plastic 5 gallon waterer set right on the tin, the tin is set on a pair of bricks in the run. I was using a 40 watt ceiling fan bulb but changed it out today for a 60 watt since it is going to be -15 tonight. Bulb needs to be thinner so as to fit inside tin, ceiling fan or candelabra bulb works fine.
I got the plans from the Chicken Chick website, DYI project.

 

[eggstra1953]

It's going to be 10 below here tonight the chickens can handle it but the water can't. I went to a 250 watt tank heater that's the smallest I've found that will handle those temperatures. when it gets back to 10 above I'll switch back to my 125 watt heater. If there is a better option I'd like to listen ?

 

[EagleEyes]

If there is a better option I'd like to listen ?

OK, here is is: Cookie Tin Heater. You can look it up, and it works and costs little or nothing.

 

[eggstra1953]

Thanks I've seen those heaters on you tube wasn't sure if they would be effective below zero but 40 or 60 watts is a lot more cost effective than 250 !

 

[RonP]

It's going to be 10 below here tonight the chickens can handle it but the water can't. I went to a 250 watt tank heater that's the smallest I've found that will handle those temperatures. when it gets back to 10 above I'll switch back to my 125 watt heater. If there is a better option I'd like to listen ?

There are much safer ways to keep your water liquid during cold spells!!

Heat lamps are a documented cause of coop fires.

Heat lamp fire!
Another heat lamp fire!
Yet another issue, and fires!

 

[eggstra1953]

RonP I'm not using a heat lamp in my hen house I'm using a 250 watt bird bath heater 0r tank heater for the water that's all you mentioned there are better ways but did not elaborate ?