Water heater/Timer question

[spook]

OK, Miss "I don't use lights/water heaters",well, I plan on picking up a heated dog dish for the girls and I wonder if I place it on the timer, will it thaw out quick enough for them ? My timer is set for 4am and getting my butt out of bed is getting old! lol. I would love to leave the light on later but worry that it would shut off and leave them on the floor...anyone have any suggestions, comments regarding a heated water bowl or how you use your lights.
Thank you in advance!
Kel

 

[newchickmom]

I have my light timer set to come on early in the morning.(5AM) and shut off after sunset.(actually about 8PM) The girls have plenty of time to come in and get settled for the night before lights out and I come in and close them up before the lights shut off. The coop doesn't have windows so I have to leave the lights on all day in the winter because I can't leave the outside door open for light.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Most heated dishes, buckets, and tapes have a thermostat built in. The heater kicks in at 32 degs and shuts off again somehere above that. You don't have to put it on a timer.

 

[spook]

Thank you guys for your replies, I have the water dish plugged in full time and the timer light on in hopes that they will begin laying eggs again!

 

[vickiemontana]

What kind of water heater do you use and where do I get one? We are in South western Montana. do they come with timers? We get frozen water during the day. This leaves us with the inability to even leave the ranch for the weekend. Please help.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

You can get heated dishes and buckets at any feed store or most pet stores. You can even get heaters that drop into a bucket or watering trough to keep them deiced. The ones with built in thermostats don't require a timer. They turn on as necessary to keep the water from freezing.

 

[spook]

Hi, I have a 1 quart dog dish that is heated, comes on at 32 degrees and does not allow it to be much warmer. I did plug it in separate from the timer, so its on all the time. I don't think its been used yet! lol.
The light, 25 watt bulb, comes on at 3:30 am until 7 am, then they go to bed early when the sun drops down. I hear happy hens when I get up to the house, they are singing. Seems nice!
I also saw one of the girls looking at the fresh straw in the nests! Keep your fingers crossed!!! We might get an egg this week! Wouldn't that be something else!