[DJ_Chook]

Get a terracotta plant pot, one with a hole in the top, raid it off the floor enough to allow a small draft underneath, put 3/4 tea lights under and light them, then put a shallow, fire proof pot on top.

That is a brilliant idea!

[Castle Farm]

My water troughs for the animals are up on blocks and I fill the space under them with fresh manure about once a week (wheelbarrow full).
If you can keep it 'working' the amount of heat it generates helps stop the water freezing.

Iv'e not tried it with poultry.

[Bright Raven]

Brilliant ideas folks, I like the idea of compost method and have been mulling it over.
How about this as an idea to keep the compost warmer for longer.
Dig a hole (before the ground freezes) about 30cm square and about 60 cm deep.
Fill with lovely hot compost and pop an old metal grill on the top.
Pop the drinker on the grill.
Well the ground has now frozen solid now so I don't have the time to experiment !!! Also my knowledge of composting is a bit thin. Perhaps some sort of air pipe would need to be rigged up? 

[Womble]

Manure? What a fantastic idea!!

I posted some pics previously of the heater used last year. This year I'm hoping to have electricity, so will do something with an anti-frost heater, as I hope that will be a bit more controllable. However, until I do, this one's going to be pressed back into service!

[Womble]

Hmmm, you lot have got me thinking again!! 

I'm thinking of giving this wee aquarium heater a shot, as it's less than a tenner, and fully submersible.



It looks as though the lowest the thermostat will go is 17 degC, which is admittedly a bit higher than we would need, but then again, with only a 25W output, I can't see the water getting all that hot anyway.

Any thoughts folks? Has anyone else tried this sort of thing, or am I to be the nominated TAS guinea pig? 

[little blue]

Womble... does the tin get hot? 

[Womble]

Yes it does, but not hot enough for roast chickens or anything. You'll notice in the photo that the water bowl is actually sat on top of the vented lid of a quality street tin. This means that there's no direct contact between the 'flame chamber' and the bowl. I found that this was just enough to keep the water at about 10 degC last winter, though I'll be honest, there was a bit of faffing involved to get the flame trimmed to the right height.

[Bright Raven]

What an ingenious bunch of folks we are!! 

[little blue]

Yes it does, but not hot enough for roast chickens or anything.

:lol:
not like a slow cooker then?!
And they reach it ok?   Sorry, of course they do, otherwise there's no point!  just looked abit high at first glance.

I'll be out tomorrow, buying & eating Roses ready to drill holes in the tin   

[bigchicken]

Last year I used old tin pie dishes (fray bentos) when water froze hard to empty.This year I am trying old Chinese plastic carry out cartons and they are working fine. Necessity is the mother ------------ .

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi Womble - Let us know how you get on with it, sounds interesting

They seem spoilt for choice in The States  Heated Waterers

All the best
Sue

[moorlander]

Often there is very little alternative to simply smashing out teh ice and re-filling as needed.
There are a few ideas on you-tube for drinker warmers and there could be an idea there which you could adapt.
Henhouses are usually brim full with flammables and so I would strongly advise against any form of naked light or any appliance which reached scorching heat. Chooks have a habit of kicking their litter randomly and fires are more easily started than put out.
Good luck

[doganjo]

Haven't you all been looking at the other animal threads about drinkers being frozen?   Add some vegetable oil to their water and it won't freeze over.

[valr]

I shall do that in the morning Anne! I have been running in and out with hot water....

BTW can you feed chickens those fatty ball things that you buy for wild garden birds? Might keep them amused..

[doganjo]

Check the ingredients to be sure, but I can't see how something that is good for one bird could be bad for another.  The only thing that might be affected with some stuff is eggs and I don't suppose you're getting many of those just now anyway.