You have great PVC structure. How about getting a small piece of guttering from the store and attach to the PVC? Not comfy to stand on. MY friend uses a gutter attached to pen.
Because my chicks are still pretty young, 7 weeks, I didn't want to install the permanent waterer until they were full grown. So I used one of my nipples & installed it in the bottom of a candy container. Drilled some holes neat they top & hung it up. I've been using this since they were 10 days old, right after I got tired of knocked over, or dirty waterers. The aluminum foil on top stops them from roosting on the edge.
@cluckincrazy: do you just set the gravety feeder in the heated dish? And that keeps it ice free? What temp is your coop?
I live in MN and the temp in the coop today is 10 degrees. The heated dog dish works great for me. Placing it up on the crate seems to keep the hens off of it and the bricks keep the crate in place.
Yes, the regular plastic waterer just sits in the heated dog bowl. The coldest it's been so far is 10'F in the coop. There was ice in the top of the waterer, but still full of ice free drinking water. We will have to see....