I found a post on here a few weeks ago that made a big quality of life change for me and my birds that may help you. I wish I could give proper credit but don't know where it is now...
It showed a cookie tin with a lightbulb in it and said to set the waterer right on top. Drill a hole in the side of the can just large enough to get the wires in, connect everything just like you would for a lamp, tape everything down, put the lid back on and set the dish on top. It puts the heat right where you need it at the base. Two weeks of no frozen water dishes here now and it has been really cold. It didn't cost me anything because I scavanged all the parts from junk in the shed, but even if you had to buy a lamp kit and a can of cookies you would come out ahead compared to hauling water at the crack of dawn. lol.
That would be my best tip for anyone getting started in a cold climate. Good luck.
It showed a cookie tin with a lightbulb in it and said to set the waterer right on top. Drill a hole in the side of the can just large enough to get the wires in, connect everything just like you would for a lamp, tape everything down, put the lid back on and set the dish on top. It puts the heat right where you need it at the base. Two weeks of no frozen water dishes here now and it has been really cold. It didn't cost me anything because I scavanged all the parts from junk in the shed, but even if you had to buy a lamp kit and a can of cookies you would come out ahead compared to hauling water at the crack of dawn. lol.
That would be my best tip for anyone getting started in a cold climate. Good luck.
