Winterizing the Waterer

[Frazzemrat1]

I know this has come up quite a bit lately, and in fact I'm getting my first blow freezing temps this weekend. I planned on buying an aquarium water heater and putting it in the water bucket (I have the 5gal vertical nipple style). This was my thought, then I got concerned that if the water level got too low the glass around the heater might shatter with the temp difference.
Has this happened to anybody? What should I use instead? The same type of submersible heaters used in horse troughs? Do they make them small enough for a 5 gal bucket?

 

[21hens-incharge]

They do make heaters for buckets. Get a de-icer as some heaters actually bring the water to HOT not just thawed.

I use this kind.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TZ5A8...t=&hvlocphy=9028904&hvtargid=pla-273768358459


It kept my 6 gallon tub ice free well below zero.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I meant to add that aquarium heaters are designed to be used in heated houses. They are very likely to fail in fluctuating temps.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

They do make heaters for buckets. Get a de-icer as some heaters actually bring the water to HOT not just thawed.

I use this kind.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TZ5A8...t=&hvlocphy=9028904&hvtargid=pla-273768358459


It kept my 6 gallon tub ice free well below zero.

I was just checking that one out... However the reviews say not to use with an extension cord? If I can't use an extension cord, that will be a problem as I have no power out to the coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I used it with a 25' extension cord. Funny that it says not to now but did not when I got mine last year.

I do have power to the coop but needed it farther from the roosts.
Make sure to secure your cords and use a gfci protected outlet too.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I used it with a 25' extension cord. Funny that it says not to now but did not when I got mine last year.

I do have power to the coop but needed it farther from the roosts.
Make sure to secure your cords and use a gfci protected outlet too.

Thank you!!

 

[aart]

This was my thought, then I got concerned that if the water level got too low the glass around the heater might shatter with the temp difference.

Ya just gotta top it off everyday to make sure that doesn't happen.
Has worked for me for the last 2-3 winters, running off a 100' extension cord.
First winter we had days on end well below freezing and some sub-zero nights.
Don't buy a cheap heater tho, first one I used failed(didn't shatter, just quit).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

 

[blackdog043]

I was just checking that one out... However the reviews say not to use with an extension cord? If I can't use an extension cord, that will be a problem as I have no power out to the coop.

They all say that and probably all the aquarium heaters too. Just have it plugged into a GFCI outlet or you can buy an extension with a GFCI in it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHQIK...t=&hvlocphy=9009906&hvtargid=pla-313052272940

 

[CapricornFarm]

Did you read about heating the water with fresh poop? The person dug a hole much bigger than the bucket. Filled around the bucket with fresh horse or chicken manure, covered with sand. Filled bucket with water. Will not freeze due to heat generated by composting poop.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Did you read about heating the water with fresh poop? The person dug a hole much bigger than the bucket. Filled around the bucket with fresh horse or chicken manure, covered with sand. Filled bucket with water. Will not freeze due to heat generated by composting poop.

It’s the hanging kind of bucket, with the nipples on the bottom, and the main part of the run is a thick layer of hay over concrete... no digging possible here.