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I didn't find that a heat lamp was reliable to keep a waterer from freezing--I think it would have had to be nearer to the waterer, which would have put it too low to be fire-safe.
I'd suggest one of the heaters that looks like an inverted metal pie plate (heating element is underneath), and meant to have the waterer sitting on top of it. I wouldn't put a plastic waterer on it--metal only. That has worked very well for me for the last 2 winters--generally only needed at night (sun on the coop usually warms things up just enough that I can unplug it during the day). An alternative to this is setting the waterer on to of a metal or ceramic holder with an ordinary incandescent light bulb inside (I think I've seen both a large flower pot, and a cinder block, used as the holder). The waterer sits on top, heat from the bulb rises and keeps it just above freezing, and the metal or ceramic holder keeps the bulb away from flammable bedding, etc. Of course with incandescent bulbs outlawed you'd better get some right way before you can't buy them at all! You can probably find pictures online of the home-made light-bulb arrangement.
Third alternative is to put out two waterers--one filled with warm water, which will be drinkable for a few hours, and another filled with *hot* water--not hot enough to scald if anyone tries to drink, but by the time the first waterer has cooled enough to freeze the second will still be liquid. (I use this method with my horses' buckets on days when their water might freeze before I get home)
BTW--rather than *buying* large-volume feeders, you can use plastic 5-gal. buckets (often available at restaurants free, or for only a dollar or two).
-- You cut off the bottom two inches of the bucket and set it aside as the feeder "tray."
-- Cut two slits up the sides of the top bucket section, leaving a couple of inches uncut below the ribbed top.
-- Drill holes and put in short bolts/nuts to overlap a the cuts, to form a slight cone. Make sure it will fit into the bucket bottom feeder tray.
-- Use metal strips, fastened with more small bolts and nuts, to suspend the bucket-bottom feeder tray from the bucket-top "hopper". The small end of the hopper needs to sit slightly down into the feeder tray to prevent overflowing, of course.
-- I hung mine by the bucket handle--you may need to experiment to get the bucket to hang straight, depending on the type of handle--a metal one can be bent to make a slight peak, which works well.
--You'll want to have a lid to keep the chickens from pooping in the hopper, if they decide to climb on top. I drilled a couple of holes in the lid and used heavy cord to loosely tie the lid to the handle on both sides--this kept the chickens from popping the lid off (doesn't fit exactly right since forming the cone-shape slightly distorts the top, plus I really didn't want to have to pry the lid off every time!) I can just slide one side of the lid up the handle when I want to fill it.
-- A full 5-gallon feeder will certainly last several days for up to 20 chickens.
Rhonda
STOP CORPORATE ABUSE--BAN ALL GMOs!
I didn't find that a heat lamp was reliable to keep a waterer from freezing--I think it would have had to be nearer to the waterer, which would have put it too low to be fire-safe.
I'd suggest one of the heaters that looks like an inverted metal pie plate (heating element is underneath), and meant to have the waterer sitting on top of it. I wouldn't put a plastic waterer on it--metal only. That has worked very well for me for the last 2 winters--generally only needed at night (sun on the coop usually warms things up just enough that I can unplug it during the day). An alternative to this is setting the waterer on to of a metal or ceramic holder with an ordinary incandescent light bulb inside (I think I've seen both a large flower pot, and a cinder block, used as the holder). The waterer sits on top, heat from the bulb rises and keeps it just above freezing, and the metal or ceramic holder keeps the bulb away from flammable bedding, etc. Of course with incandescent bulbs outlawed you'd better get some right way before you can't buy them at all! You can probably find pictures online of the home-made light-bulb arrangement.
Third alternative is to put out two waterers--one filled with warm water, which will be drinkable for a few hours, and another filled with *hot* water--not hot enough to scald if anyone tries to drink, but by the time the first waterer has cooled enough to freeze the second will still be liquid. (I use this method with my horses' buckets on days when their water might freeze before I get home)
BTW--rather than *buying* large-volume feeders, you can use plastic 5-gal. buckets (often available at restaurants free, or for only a dollar or two).
-- You cut off the bottom two inches of the bucket and set it aside as the feeder "tray."
-- Cut two slits up the sides of the top bucket section, leaving a couple of inches uncut below the ribbed top.
-- Drill holes and put in short bolts/nuts to overlap a the cuts, to form a slight cone. Make sure it will fit into the bucket bottom feeder tray.
-- Use metal strips, fastened with more small bolts and nuts, to suspend the bucket-bottom feeder tray from the bucket-top "hopper". The small end of the hopper needs to sit slightly down into the feeder tray to prevent overflowing, of course.
-- I hung mine by the bucket handle--you may need to experiment to get the bucket to hang straight, depending on the type of handle--a metal one can be bent to make a slight peak, which works well.
--You'll want to have a lid to keep the chickens from pooping in the hopper, if they decide to climb on top. I drilled a couple of holes in the lid and used heavy cord to loosely tie the lid to the handle on both sides--this kept the chickens from popping the lid off (doesn't fit exactly right since forming the cone-shape slightly distorts the top, plus I really didn't want to have to pry the lid off every time!) I can just slide one side of the lid up the handle when I want to fill it.
-- A full 5-gallon feeder will certainly last several days for up to 20 chickens.
Rhonda
STOP CORPORATE ABUSE--BAN ALL GMOs!
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Posted by: sidesaddle5@yahoo.com
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