winter watering

[Mugs]

I'm thinking ahead to winter which here in Wisconsin can get below zero. So I'll need to get a heated waterer.

I know that there are home made heaters but I'm not confident in our handyman abilities enough to make one. I'd spend the winder worrying about an electric short.

Does anyone have one you can recommend? I know I want a top fill. I was thinking a heated dog dish. I know that can get too much crud kicked in but I have my summer waterer on a couple of pavers and it stays pretty clean. I just have 2 hens so we're not a major operation here.

I'll have to put the waterer in the run as the coop is too small for it.

I'm going to put the coop on the side of the house and I'm going to have to run an extension cord for the waterer and light. I"m not crazy about doing that either but it will be a major expense to wire the coop.

 

[Judy]

Lots of people use heated dog waterers. Be sure they can't peck the wire.

 

[featherz]

I use heated dog dishes on pavers. Never had any problems with wire pecking and I managed to get five more on clearance from walmart for $5/each. Yes, they get a bit messy, but with the high sides less so than others.

 

[mstricer]

Heated dog dishes are great. I don't find them hard to clean. If there is snow on the ground, I put snow in the dish and swish it around. Nice and clean. I also have a heated water which is awful to clean and fill.

 

[Mugs]

Thanks for the info. I think that's the way I'm going to go.