Winter is coming...

[Ninjasquirrel]

It's hard to find any incandescent anymore, at least in the residential lighting arena.
Reptile heating is one place you still can, last time I looked.
I've been real happy with an AQ heater and HN's the last 4 winters.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

Thank you for this! Ill show the design to my SO

 

[snow5164]

Hi!
I just read this whole thread and no one recommended the cookie tin water heater? I’ve used mine for 5 winters and I love it .

I can use the same waterer as summer and it’s inexpensive to run it.

We bought the tin and the light bulb parts at the dollar store . We have it in sand , a 60 watt bulb works .The 100 watt we started with made warm water

The only change we might make this year is a tiny hole in the tin so we can see when the bulb burns out .

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Hi!
I just read this whole thread and no one recommended the cookie tin water heater? I’ve used mine for 5 winters and I love it .

I can use the same waterer as summer and it’s inexpensive to run it.

We bought the tin and the light bulb parts at the dollar store . We have it in sand , a 60 watt bulb works .The 100 watt we started with made warm water

The only change we might make this year is a tiny hole in the tin so we can see when the bulb burns out .

Got a pic or pic of build? Id love to see it

 

[snow5164]

Mine is in the grain bins ,
But this is exactly what we have except our cord is inside plastic conduit.

Also we used two layers of vapour barrier plastic to cover our run , it’s cheap and comes in a big roll . We reuse it two times .

 

[Celticjoys]

Its almost here. I can see the writing on the wall. Leaves falling...temperatures dropping. It will be here before we know it and my birds are not ready. We have run an electrical line out to the coop to be able to run various devises but have yet to decide on what to use. We know we want a light on a timer to insure egg production. We are not decided on a heat source but we know we want something for the water. We have had mild winters and harsh winters so id like to have a heat source connected to a thermometer so it only kicks on at a certain temp. As far as water we were thinking of using pvc with water cups.

Please post what works for your birds. Im continuing to do my research and im sure this is a topic on a lot of newbies minds.

I'm in zone 5 and have used a 60w light bulb on a timer. I place it within a concrete cinder block which I then cover with a ceramic tile. I then place my ordinary plastic waterer on this "base". Only when nighttime temps were below -15 c all night did I need 24hr heating.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Mine is in the grain bins ,
But this is exactly what we have except our cord is inside plastic conduit.

Also we used two layers of vapour barrier plastic to cover our run , it’s cheap and comes in a big roll . We reuse it two times .

Neato torpedo. We have that same waterer. If we can make it work all season that would be great. And youre in canada which im sure gets waaaay colder than here!

P.s. is your coop heated? I noticed thats inside your coop. We're thinking of run options since our coop is so small

 

[snow5164]

Yes we have a small heater for the two coops , we opened the wall and put chicken wire in between . We keep it just above freezing .... it feels cold to us but egg production stays decent , and we have had the power go out.

No one died we just left the doors closed til it came on again .


We took an old shed and insulated the crap out of it , floors, ceiling and doors , added a few windows for ventilation , sand everywhere and it works for us !!

 

[JennAtTheFarm]

I use a heated dog bowl.

This is what I use also.
Also have the thermoplugs that turn on under 37 degrees for the heat lamp.

 

[JennAtTheFarm]

They don't walk in it! I give them fermented feed in dog bowls as well and they do not walk in that either. I have 10 chickens. None of them walk in the bowls.
BTW, we are at 37 1/2 N latitude, and the dog bowl water stays unfrozen here , this may not be true further north... I change the water every 3 or 4 days.
View attachment 1529821

I set my heated dog bowl up on an overturned rubber feed bowl. They can still reach it but don’t walk through it. Has worked for years. We just keep the water topped off and change it once a week.

 

[Chickenheadmate]

W They need ventilation to prevent frostbite.....

Could you please explain? My logic would be, little to no ventilation; no cold air for frost bite.