Waterer Advice for Our Chickens' First Winter (in Wisconsin)?

[kannna]

We also have a heating dog type water dish. We keep it on a stump in the run just large enough for them to perch on. Keeps it out of the shavings and level. In the summer we use a different plastic waterer that wouldn't work in the winter.

 

[Buschie's dozen]

rubber garbage can lids fill twice a day with warm water------tried all those fancy bowls -heated drinkers they all failed for me....

 

[JackE]

Quote:
I also use the homebuilt cookie pan warmer. I built one for less than $5, used a 40W bulb. I used the warmer with a 2.5gal waterer. It worked perfectly. I seen a waterer warmer in TSC, they wanted almost $50 for it. Then I read reviews how they would not make it through one winter without burning out. I guess you could use a heated dog dish, but I imagine the chickens would slop it, and the water in it, up fairly quickly.
Jack

 

[1Rooster]

Quote:
I also use the homebuilt cookie pan warmer. I built one for less than $5, used a 40W bulb. I used the warmer with a 2.5gal waterer. It worked perfectly. I seen a waterer warmer in TSC, they wanted almost $50 for it. Then I read reviews how they would not make it through one winter without burning out. I guess you could use a heated dog dish, but I imagine the chickens would slop it, and the water in it, up fairly quickly.
Jack

We use the heated water dish we got at our feed store for $20 they work great if put on bricks so they don't kick all the shavings into it and we put it close to the wall have used them for 3 years now in the winter and love them. We have one inside coop and one outside . We also found they dont perch on them because they can't get a grip. Also really saves on electricity and auto shuts off it temp gets to 40 which in winter really doesn't but come late spring it does and does help they shut off.. We love them and found they work the best for us no ice at all..

 

[JackE]

Quote:
I also use the homebuilt cookie pan warmer. I built one for less than $5, used a 40W bulb. I used the warmer with a 2.5gal waterer. It worked perfectly. I seen a waterer warmer in TSC, they wanted almost $50 for it. Then I read reviews how they would not make it through one winter without burning out. I guess you could use a heated dog dish, but I imagine the chickens would slop it, and the water in it, up fairly quickly.
Jack

We use the heated water dish we got at our feed store for $20 they work great if put on bricks so they don't kick all the shavings into it and we put it close to the wall have used them for 3 years now in the winter and love them. We have one inside coop and one outside . We also found they dont perch on them because they can't get a grip. Also really saves on electricity and auto shuts off it temp gets to 40 which in winter really doesn't but come late spring it does and does help they shut off.. We love them and found they work the best for us no ice at all..

As long as the birds have water to drink without having to peck a hole in the ice, That's the main thing. The cookie tin heater works great for me, and cost less than $5. I'm thinking about doing a modification to it now, and getting a thermostatic switch for the heater. To shut it off on those rare warm winter days.
Jack

 

[HarryBun12]

Also in WI here- and like many others have said, after trying various waterers, I use the heated dog water dishes on bricks for winter. I've never had a problem with them. In the mornings I take some water out in a milk jug and top off the water. Once or twice a week I empty it and wipe it down and refill. I switched this year to a plastic feed pan from Farm and Fleet for their water, too and it's sooooo much easier to clean out and refill. Again, it's up on blocks just high enough to prevent flying shavings going in the water- empty daily and wipe out and refill. No messing around with trying to screw the bottom on or off and setting it up just so then trying to get the algae out of the top.... This leaves more time to cuddle the chickens.

 

[Orchid]

I used a large-sized heated dog bowl for watering my chickens last winter. It worked great, no problems at all.