Winter Water Woes

[cabincreations]

My set up is good to -4F before it freezes. I have a patio stone in the bottom and a chimney block on top of that with another patio stone on top. Inside is a 100 watt lightbulb but it is placed in a heat bulb light setup so that is is all reflected up to the top patio stone. I water 3 pens with one waterer this way by joining the pens where the waterer is. That way I only have to carry one watering can a day. Works for this lazy chicken farmer

 

[debattikitoo]

Thanks!

 

[debattikitoo]

Thanks to all for the replies. Lots of useful info!

 

[GC-Raptor]

I use a second hand 4 quart all stainless steel Dutch oven (no aluminium base) that I put a lamp fixture into. I removed the handle from the cover and put the cover on the floor right side up and put the upside down pan on top to reflect heat up and off the wood floor.

Shown without cover, you can see light on the floor. I drilled a 1/64 hole half way down the side so I can see if the light is burned out. The bulb has a 1/4 inch gap from the bottom, which is the top when in use.

I use a 43 watt halogen bulb.

It has worked down to 4 Fahrenheit, with a 2 gallon waterer, the coldest here this winter. You can get a 53 watt and a 72 watt bulb if needed. Mine is plugged into a Thermo-cube, and a led nightlight with the light sensor covered, is plugged into the Thermo-cube. A bulb lasts me 40 to 80 days depending on how cold.
This is not for use outside. In coop only. GC

 

[cabincreations]

I use a second hand 4 quart all stainless steel Dutch oven (no aluminium base) that I put a lamp fixture into. I removed the handle from the cover and put the cover on the floor right side up and put the upside down pan on top to reflect heat up and off the wood floor. Shown without cover, you can see light on the floor. I drilled a 1/64 hole half way down the side so I can see if the light is burned out. The bulb has a 1/4 inch gap from the bottom, which is the top when in use. I use a 43 watt halogen bulb. It has worked down to 4 Fahrenheit, with a 2 gallon waterer, the coldest here this winter. You can get a 53 watt and a 72 watt bulb if needed. Mine is plugged into a Thermo-cube, and a led nightlight with the light sensor covered, is plugged into the Thermo-cube. A bulb lasts me 40 to 80 days depending on how cold.
This is not for use outside. In coop only. GC

I love this idea, much better than my cumbersome cement patio stones, really...and I bet the heat transfers through the metal pot much easer than through a chimney block. Great idea here!

 

[MrsAuberry00]

I do the same. I have a 5 gallon buckets with horizontal nipples and use a stock tank deicer in both of them.

Will this work with the hanging waterer with poultry nipples on the bottom of the bucket similar to the one in this image? The top has a built in hole with a cap which would be perfect for running the deicer cord through, but I've been told in regard to other methods of trying to keep the water thawed that the nipples themselves will freeze.

 

[~KH~]

Will this work with the hanging waterer with poultry nipples on the bottom of the bucket similar to the one in this image? The top has a built in hole with a cap which would be perfect for running the deicer cord through, but I've been told in regard to other methods of trying to keep the water thawed that the nipples themselves will freeze. View attachment 1137133
View attachment 1137133

I had a bucket with vertical nipples and used a bucket heater and the nipples would freeze when it got really cold (we had below zero weeks), but for the majority of the time, it was fine. On the bitterly cold days, I'd just go out and loosen the metal part and get it unstuck in the mornings.

 

[wamtazlady]

Will this work with the hanging waterer with poultry nipples on the bottom of the bucket similar to the one in this image? The top has a built in hole with a cap which would be perfect for running the deicer cord through, but I've been told in regard to other methods of trying to keep the water thawed that the nipples themselves will freeze. View attachment 1137133
View attachment 1137133

Vertical nipples on the bottom of a bucket will work for a time. However, the vertical nipples will freeze at a higher temperature than the horizontal nipples. The vertical nipples also leak more. In winter you really don't want water under your waterer with the birds standing in that water. My horizontal nipples were working even when it was -22 F here last winter. Instead of a bucket I use a tote with lid. The tote holds enough water so that it only needs filled once a week. The clear tote also made it easy to see when it needed filled. There is a really good article someone posted to the forums. You really should read it. It compares several types of waterers and how well they work.

Here's the link:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/diy-chicken-waterer-3-compared

 

[BBQJOE]

I just pour vodka in my waterer in the winter time. It keeps the water from freezing, and my chickens think I'm a God.

 

[MrsAuberry00]

Crud. Chickens are hard.