What kind of de-icing or water heating devices do you guys use?

[Granolamom]

Last night we had our first freeze of this year, and of course this morning all my watering bowls were frozen. I'm looking on-line for de-icing devices, and was wondering, what the BYC experts

use to keep their chickens' water from freezing.

 

[chicknmania]

WE just use an electric dog watering bowl, we got it at TSC. You can put the chicken waterer inside the bowl, then fill both with water; the bowl will help to keep both ice free and that way you have a reservoir.

 

[chickie momma di]

what and where is tsc?
i am also in need of something to keep the water from freezing.
the coop seemed much warmer than outside however the water was frozen this morning.
i have 3 buff orphingtons in a 4x5 coop

 

[BeccaOH]

TSC is Tractor Supply Center. You can locate stores on their site: www.tractorsupply.com.

I have a 3 gallon plastic waterer with heater I ordered from McMurray. It was frozen this morning -- because the dog unplugged the extension cord.

I find it a bit of a pain to haul the thing out of the coop, refill, and haul back without spilling water all over me, the floor, and the walkway. But it does work to keep water from icing when properly plugged in.

Suggestions for managing the filling process would be welcomed.

 

[Pullet Pimp]

I use the 5 gal galvanized waterer and base heater with thermostat. This is the first year for it and so far I love it. Haven't seen anything close to frozen water yet even though the swimming pool has had 1/2" ice on it for several days now.

As for filling I have a couple of plastic milk jugs that I bring out water with when I check the chickens. I usually bring out 2 gallons every other day and add them to the waterer. It makes for less trips than bringing in the waterer and slopping it everywhere. Works for me.

 

[BeccaOH]

Oh, to add clarity, my 3 gallon waterer has to be filled from the bottom. I do have a galvanized waterer too that I bought first, but when needing a heated waterer, it seemed cheaper to buy a complete new waterer than just the heat plate.

 

[bearcat73]

I also use the heated dog bowl from Tractor Supply. It holds 5 quarts of water.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...10551_10001_50376_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Hubby with a stick?

 

[bearcat73]

Cutler supply has a hanging heated waterer:

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/in...ducts_id=835&zenid=9tibiaijc77ee1p0q8aja9l2u4

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

Quote:
I have the same waterer, and have encountered some rather chilly spillage. My thinking is to carry a bucket of water to the coop, invert the waterer, remove the base (not going to use the little hole again!), fill, replace the base, revert, and go.

We'll see how it goes!

-Christian