Winter watering solution?

[Daycare Mom]

Thanks for all the great ideas! Now I just have to decide which one to try.

 

[morelcabin]

Quote:
Hmmmmm...I wonder then if a crockpot would be worth trying as a water dish? They are plentiful at flea markets, and cheap!

 

[ChickaD]

A crock pot could serve more than one purpose: you could put a note on it, saying, "Keep laying, girls, or else!"

 

[NS2A]

Quote:
This idea seems like the easiest! I will try this...

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

peapickinchicks

with the candle or drink warmer, what kind of bowl do you use? does the warmer get too hot? Im wondering if i could rig up some sort of base so that my chicken waterer (3 gal) could sit on the drink warmer. chicken waterer is the red and white plastic one. would it melt it?

 

[Cetawin]

I dunno what I will do. I plan on keeping the coop temp above freezing so it should not be a problem. If it becomes a problem, I will find a way to heat it up to avoid freezing.

The girls of Eggtopia are spoiled things and will not tolerate a frozen waterer.

They would give me the "evil eye" for sure.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
That is what I use too. Every year at Ace Hardware here they go on the clearance table in the spring. Then they are only about $7. I always try to have one or two extra in hand in case one dies.

 

[peapickinchicks]

Hey to: Whatsup chickenbutt

I used the candle warmer on my dogs metal bowl. I know most of the warmers are inclosed around with plastic , but it may be some kind of heat resistant pvc or something. I have the same kind of waterer you have. I will probably have my DH rig it some way so it will work, he's good at figuring things out like that. I'll let you all know when the time comes what we come with.

 

[AllChookUp]

al6517 wrote:
I use these cords that plug in, they are regulated by temp so only keep the temp just above freezing. There for wrapping pipes in the winter, they have a small light on the end so you know it's working, I just wrap them around the galvanized 5 gal waterers and keep them plugged in at all times, these are very simple, inexpensive, and use very little tricity. you can buy them at any hardware store and come in different lenghts, they work like a dream, nice and easy.

I think I know what you mean. Do you have any pics? Do you think it would work in -20F?


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[Akane]

Heat tape may sound easy but of all the ways mentioned so far it's one of the most dangerous for fires. Probably second only to heat lamps. Make sure you get thermostatically controlled heat tape and do not cross the tape over itself. Nonthermostatically controlled may melt any plastic waterers or pipes and crossing the tape (especially if it's not the extra insulated thermostatically controlled kind) can cause it to short out and possibly start a fire. Always use proper electrical tape to hold heat tape in place. Remember you are running electricity around your water with this method. While usually it's enclosed pretty well don't be too careless.