Safety w/Water Heater?

[BayCityBabe]

I just bought one of those water heaters to use with my steel waterer. You know, the plug-in platform from TSC?
I bought it out with every intention of placing it on the coop floor and plugging it in. Then I started thinking that it could be a fire hazard... Just plug it in, right? I CANNOT DO IT.
Should I place it on a piece of wood? Is it okay right on the floor with the pine shavings? Please, veteran chickie farmers tell me what to do.
Thanks.

 

[Chickending]

All I can say is that I put mine on cement bricks. To not only rise the waterer up so that they do not get shavings in the water, keeps it cleaner that way but also for fire precaution. I figured it was smarter to have it on a non flammable service.

I think it says on the box to put on a bricks or something non flammable but I may be wrong.

 

[LynneP]

Mine, from Farm Innovators, is up on three cinder blocks and a 1" thick patio block. The temp at the surface gets to about 50 F, but yes, you do need to pay attention to fire concerns. Also be sure the cord is protected from pecking and that it's secured to prevent tipping. I don't have a pic of it yet, but this is the setup underneath, with a 1 gal summer waterer on top. I have a beam that is drilled to take the cord so it can be plugged outside the coop wall.

 

[BayCityBabe]

LynneP - Thanks for the photo!

 

[patandchickens]

Ditto. Put it up on something noncombustible (you need to raise it ANYhow, to the level of the hens' backs, to minimize poo and shavings getting into the water) and keep the underneath of the waterer free from shavings etc, and it'll be fine.

Have fun,

Pat