I use heated dog bowls, since I have so many critters, I found them cheaper and easier to fill, I just go around with a bucket and fill everyone up. I do keep them raised up on bricks to keep them from getting so full of shavings, etc, but then, mine are inside the coop. Another trick I use, since I still don't have water to my barn
and have so many animals to care for, I have a stock tank in the barn that I fill about once a week and keep a tank heater in that. Then I can just scoop and fill waterers without hauling from the house over and over, or trying to use the hose and drain several times a week, which is a big pain.
