Thinking about winter (ugh!) and water heaters....

[JackE]

I love your invention, jackie! I have too many of those tins. Thats what ill use on my new coop. ( if 40eatts eill be warm enough here..)
In the type I use, the light bulb needs to be in a little porcelin fixture.
Or a small lamp if you like.
Search "chicken water heaters" on you tube. Maube seeing them will give you an idea of how safe they seem.
My concern. For fire risk was about the wire getting frayed. I just made sure that it was all covered, and not pinched.
You could always put a cinder block or paving stone between heater and floor if you want.

Thanks, but I didn't invent it. I'm just an satisfied customer of a great idea.
Jack

 

[Going Quackers]

This is what I have used for the last two yrs. Works great, only costs $5 to build.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/107951/cookie-tin-water-heater

Jack

What a fascinating concept! I too am thinking winter.. as were like 50f this morning lol

 

[Eggcessive]

I used the cookie tin waterer as well as 2 electric dog bowls, and I prefer the dog bowls. Like Fred said, put another bowl inside the dog waterer to change out once or twice a day, and you don't have toclean the dog waterer. He uses ice cream pails, and I used metal dog dishes inside them.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Do whatever is quickest, easiest and safest for your setup. There's a bunch of ways to "git 'er done".

What simply is not fun is fussing with water in zero weather. No fun whatever!!! Winter is hard enough without struggling with a hard-to-use watering system.

 

[Nicole01]

Thanks all - but i am concerned with the temp of the tin holders.. it doesn't burn the floor )i have linoleum and shavings) also, the cinder block sounds great, but doesn't the bulb burn the floor? My house burnt down in 2001, and I am deathly afraid of fire.....

I'm sorry about your house fire. That is devastating! We had a house fire due to the roofer skipping steps, but it went out on its own. I don't know how either. The roofer came back and did things right a second time. We had a bit of damage, but our house was saved. We heat the coop with a radiator heater under one of the roosts. We built a cage that surrounds it, but it's not even hot to the touch. We keep it on the lowest setting, this keeps our water from freezing. We also have electricity built in and our coop is inside our garage. I heat the coop, so I can sit with them everyday. I hear heated bowls are nice. I'm not quite sure I'd be putting a bulb so low either. The one we have installed is covered and has a cage over it on the ceiling.

 

[JackE]

I've read on here somewhere about using a heated dog dish, filling it with sand and putting the water fount on top of that. That sounds like a good idea. Buuuuut, you cannot beat the cost of the cookie tin water heater. I seen the water fount heater in T.S. it costs almost $50. I haven't priced a heated dog dish, but I'll bet it cost a lot more than $5. When the $50 heater craps out, you are out $50, as you are not going to repair it. When the $5 cookie tin heater quits, take the top off and put in a new bulb, and you are back in business. As the bulb is totally enclosed in a cookie tin, there is NO danger from it. I use the heater with a thermo cube, so if the outside temp goes up a bit, the heater shuts off. I use two galvanized water founts with the heater, once a day, I'll carry one out filled with fresh water, carry the other in to clean and have ready for the next day. Like Fred says, there are many ways to get it done, but definently do something. You, and especially the chickens, don't want to deal with frozen water founts.
Jack

 

[coolcanoechic]

I've read on here somewhere about using a heated dog dish, filling it with sand and putting the water fount on top of that. That sounds like a good idea. Buuuuut, you cannot beat the cost of the cookie tin water heater. I seen the water fount heater in T.S. it costs almost $50. I haven't priced a heated dog dish, but I'll bet it cost a lot more than $5. When the $50 heater craps out, you are out $50, as you are not going to repair it. When the $5 cookie tin heater quits, take the top off and put in a new bulb, and you are back in business. As the bulb is totally enclosed in a cookie tin, there is NO danger from it. I use the heater with a thermo cube, so if the outside temp goes up a bit, the heater shuts off. I use two galvanized water founts with the heater, once a day, I'll carry one out filled with fresh water, carry the other in to clean and have ready for the next day. Like Fred says, there are many ways to get it done, but definently do something. You, and especially the chickens, don't want to deal with frozen water founts.
Jack

Hi Jack,
Where do you get a thermo cube?

 

[Nicole01]

I've read on here somewhere about using a heated dog dish, filling it with sand and putting the water fount on top of that. That sounds like a good idea. Buuuuut, you cannot beat the cost of the cookie tin water heater. I seen the water fount heater in T.S. it costs almost $50. I haven't priced a heated dog dish, but I'll bet it cost a lot more than $5. When the $50 heater craps out, you are out $50, as you are not going to repair it. When the $5 cookie tin heater quits, take the top off and put in a new bulb, and you are back in business. As the bulb is totally enclosed in a cookie tin, there is NO danger from it. I use the heater with a thermo cube, so if the outside temp goes up a bit, the heater shuts off. I use two galvanized water founts with the heater, once a day, I'll carry one out filled with fresh water, carry the other in to clean and have ready for the next day. Like Fred says, there are many ways to get it done, but definently do something. You, and especially the chickens, don't want to deal with frozen water founts.
Jack

What a great idea!

 

[featherz]

I always use the heated dog bowls. PIcked up a bunch on clearance this summer at Walmart for $5 each so I am set for many winters. Love em, I just set them on a concrete paver and I am all set.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Hello everyone! this will be my first winter and Hubby and I are thinking of putting something for heat in the water bucket. I was wondering if anyone had ideas..

I have heard of fish tank thermometers and o-ring type heaters for birdbaths... We have an automatic pvc type watering system now, which will have to be turned off before freezing, so we are completely open to new ideas.... please share! Thanks!!

Like you this is going to be my first winter with chickens (not including when Dad took care of them 30 years ago).

I have a big 18 gallon bucket with water and two garden hoses feeding two water bowls.



I think I'll try the electrical tape that is wrapped around house pipes to keep the hose from freezing and then I'm planning on having a heat lamp to keep the inside just a couple of degrees above freezing which should keep the water in the bucket and the bowls (cold but) liquidy.

CG