With the end of the year come the icy cold clutches of winter. The temperature tends to drop rapidly and, therefore, your chickens need special attention from you. They need to be well-protected against the freezing temperatures which may result in flu and other types of sicknesses.
While you may take numerous precautionary measures to protect your peep from the cold, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep their water from freezing. This may lead to several treks throughout the day to get fresh, unfrozen water for your backyard chickens.
A metallic dish for the water doesn’t make things easier for you either. The metal conducts the cold and elevates the freezing temperatures. However, even if you use a plastic water tub or galvanized waterer, water can still freeze. Even using quick tricks like adding ping pong balls to the water doesn’t work when that temperature plummets.
Therefore, wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to trek through the cold every few hours down to the chicken coop? A simple heated waterer, also known as a heated poultry waterer, can make life easier for you as well as your brood. You can try buying one from online stores or DIY one for yourself.
The Ideal Heated Chicken Waterer
The ideal heated waterer shouldn’t just offer warm or unfrozen water throughout the day. Instead, it should offer a bunch of different benefits as well. Ideally, these can include:
- Easy to fill and clean
- Keeps water from freezing
- Minimum energy consumption
- Safe for chickens
- Non-corrosive and non-toxic
If the waterer is electric, then you may also need a few extras likes an extension cord and heat tape to get those few extra watts of power you need. Furthermore, you also need to look for a safety element that ensures your hens do not get electrocuted. Moreover, look for a long cord since your coop may not have an electrical outlet.
When looking for a heated waterer, you’ll find that most manufacturers tend to take the above factors into consideration. Thus, finding the best heated chicken waterer might not be too hard for you.
In addition, plastic is the ideal material for your waterer. First, it is non-corrosive and extremely easy to clean. Second, it provides better insulation than metals and other materials. Lastly, it is lightweight and easy to carry. However, it may crack if the temperature gets too low. Therefore, be careful when picking out the material for your waterer.
Why Should You Get a Heated Chicken Waterer?
If you reside in an area where it never drops below freezing, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. However, for those who live in snowbound areas, taking care of chickens can get tough. Carrying water to the coop two to four times a day in extreme cold can take its toll by the end of the season.
Heated chicken waterers allow you to relax and put your worries to rest. You won’t need to venture out as many times either.
How Many Should You Get?
A question that often plagues chicken keepers is: “How many heated chicken waterers should I get?” Generally, one chicken waterer for 10 to 12 chickens will suffice. In fact, you can use a variety of different waterers at the same time.
For instance, you can place a hanging heated waterer at one location and then use a dog bowl for the other. Whatever you choose, ensure that you place them far apart. This allows your chickens to freely drink water without having to guard it against others.
Another important consideration is the fact that these waterers tend to generate a bit of moisture. This can be deadly in the winter months as it can lead to frostbite.
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Heated Chicken Waterer
While choosing the beat heated waterer may not be a tough nut to crack, beginners can still struggle with it. Here are the five most useful tips for a heated waterer:
1. Black Rubber Tub
If you’re looking for a simple solution, a black tub will suffice. A deep black rubber tub provides the perfect insulation against the cold. Also, the black color absorbs the maximum amount of heat, ensuring better heat retention. A deeper tub would ensure that the water takes a lot longer to freeze.
2. Bucket Heater
One of the most efficient ways to ensure unfrozen water is to get a bucket heater. Get a few buckets of about five to seven gallons with a poultry nipple at the bottom. Attach a thermocube with a bucket heater and place these heaters inside the buckets. The thermocube allows automatic control of the water temperature.
As soon as the temperature hits below freezing, the heater turns on automatically. This way, you can ensure maximum energy conservation while ensuring your water always remains unfrozen. In addition, the large capacity of the bucket means less frequent refills. However, you do need an electrical outlet which may cause danger or which may not be immediately available to you.
3. Cookie Tin with a Heated Base
All you need to do is get a 10-inch metal cookie tin as well as a small lamp and a thermocube. You need to drill a hole through the tin and pass the power cord of your lamp through the hole. Place the bulb or lamp inside the tin and put a lid on the tin.
If you need automatic control of the bulb, you can try using a Thermocube as mentioned previously. Place the waterer on top and you’re done. We recommend going for a 40W bulb as it does not use too much energy and also ensures that your water gets heated properly.
4. Dog Bowl
Why DIY a solution when you can just buy one? A simple plug and go device such as a heated dog bowl is the perfect solution for the winters. Various manufacturers have their own take on a heated dog bowl. Find one that suits you best. However, take special care of cleaning the bowl as it can deteriorate over time.
5. Use the Sun to Your Advantage
Simply place the waterer in an area where it receives the maximum amount of sunlight. This prevents the water from freezing without needing any electricity. However, this method will fail if the sunlight isn’t sufficient.
Final Thoughts
All in all, a heated chicken waterer can make your life much easier by ensuring fewer trips trying to thaw out frozen water for your chickens. If the water does get frozen, you can thaw it using hot water. However, it is much better to invest in a heated waterer instead. Also, remember to keep the waterer outside the coop where the moisture does not affect your chickens. So, which method will you choose?