Water in winter-ever use a Little Giant

[Farmer Kitty]

I went looking for a heater for my chicken water at our local farm supply store and found a Little Giant Electric Heater Base #HB125. I was wondering if anyone has use one or a similar heater? And how well it worked?

 

[MissPrissy]

Look at this

http://www.website-design.ca/chick_heat.html

There are others people here have made, too. You can use the search and find them.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
Do you need to worry about the water getting to hot?

 

[schmoo]

I saw those at Tractor supply, but I could'nt bring myself to pay $41.00 and change for it. I have had NO LUCK finding a heated dog bowl either. Only online, and they were pretty expensive. I have'nt seen any at Petco or Petsmart. Maybe it has to be full blown winter before they get them on the shelves.

I like that homemade one, but my chickens get rowdy and I would be worried they would spill water on the cord or even knock the whole thing over.
Its my first winter with chickens so I'm going to try something I have already. I think I'm just going to go with a heat light over the water. Unless I find a cheap heated dog bowl.

 

[MissPrissy]

There is one here with a huge crock that has an inverted dog bowl heater. It looks rock solid, too.

look here

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=19508&p=4

and here

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=20918

The little Giant for $41+ is also electric with a cord - not much difference at all.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
It's not that expensive here-$34. I'm also worried about the saftey of the homemade one but, only because last winter we had a water tank heater for the heifers almost cause a barn fire. I would use a silicone sealant to seal the cord hole if I were to make one.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We bought an electric heater base like that, to use with a large metal waterer. It worked fine. We put it up on a platform of cinder blocks, to keep it away from the litter. I also bought a heated dog bowl, like they have online at Drs. Foster and Smith. It has also worked fine. I think a lot of different options work well.