I use a 7 gallon waterer on a heater base.
I use to use a bucket with nipples and a water heater put inside it but my water has iron in it and the nipples slowly eroded so Plan B has worked for years and I don't know why I didn't do this from the start with the heater base.
Everyone is different and we all do different things. You may have to try one way to see if it works for you and the flock, but a plan b is always good.