Water Not Freezing?

[JackE]

I use a cookie tin heater I built for less than $5. It's served me well through two winters. The one in the stores costs almost $50, and when it craps out, it's finished and you are out $50. If the cookie tin heater goes out, you just put in a new light bulb (I use a 40W) and you are back in business. See the link below, easy to build, it works, and it's CHEAP.
Jack


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

 

[OldGuy43]

does anybody use a heat pad and just put it over the water?

Doesn't sound a good idea to me, unless of course your goal is to electrocute your birds.

It's not much of a problem here, but has anyone tried a heat lamp pointed at the water?

 

[mickey328]

We plan to use (it'll be our first winter with chickens) the heated dog water bowls...they're not expensive and since we only have 6 chickens, a larger one should work just fine.