Best Heated Chicken Waterer

[@royalicing8603]

Hi there, R&T! We're in MN, too! Like you, we gave up on our nipple style water heater and even tried the cup replacements, but the heater couldn't keep the cups thawed! So we ended up buying the heat plate style, too! So far, we love it! We bought the metal one and set a metal vacuum style waterer on top. It works like a charm! The test will be tomorrow night... -11°! We shall see! God bless!

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

We just bought a metal base and metal heater too. Between the larger livestock and the chickens we have been through three heaters this year. Two that were brand new in November! Hope you have better luck. 😊

[@donna9384]

Missouri here, I have a love hate relationship with all these heated waterers lol. Missouri can get really cold or we may have mild winters fir a few yrs in a row. Last yr we had a few weeks that it got down to - 17 degrees. This yr i think the coldest has been about 7 degrees. The biggest problem I've had is after filling these and you turn the back up right even when you make sure it is locked in place the bottom will fall off while carrying them and water goes everywhere. Mine have lasted the last 2 yrs. I did buy a metal base heater and it was faulty so returned it and got another plastic one like yours with the metal handle and small feet rounded top. Those are the ones I have issues with them coming apart while carrying them to the coops. They need a locking system of some sort and an indicator of which side is open and which is closed. I think we all have gone back in the coop and the chickens have no water because it was slid to the closed position. I have even marked mine with marker to show the open side. Watering chickens shouldn't be this hard lol.

[@w.knudsen5570]

That sounds like good info. I, too, live in Minnesota, and i am looking at getting my first birds next month.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

Congrats that’s exciting! 😁

[@OffbeatHomesteader]

Hi! Fellow Minnesotan here! We had the same experience with waterers. We Northerners really put the product claims to the test, don't we? The best setup I've found so far has been a metal heated water base with a metal waterer. In the coldest weather, we do get a little ice in the rim of the waterer, particularly if snow gets in there, but there is always thawed water that the chickens to get to. It has been a lifesaver! I'm so grateful for that electric outllet near the chicken coop. No more iceburgs. Cheers!

[@royalicing8603]

MN here, too! We did the same with the metal heater and metal vacuum style waterer! It works like a charm!

[@WRKH949]

Thank you for the post, we are in the same situation.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

Good luck! I'm out plugging in waterers this afternoon myself. :) I have read some folks have said that a big heated dog bowl has worked well. We have too many chickens though for that.

[@laurenmarieny]

Thanks for the recommendation, I bought the heated base!

[@jonorton7475]

Appreciate your information on various waterers!! This is our first year with chickens and we are in SE South Dakota. Bought a heated waterer this summer to get ready--it automatically shuts off at 40 degrees-great! BUT it also only heats to zero and then shuts off! Really? But that's not the worst part! It's all plastic and after filled you need to flip it over and the 'catch' is so loose that most of the time the water spills out all over! Think we will get the metal base heater suggested and go that route-eventually!!

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

Oh noooo that is the WORST when it spills all over! This year I went full metal, base and Waterer, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to plastic. We had bought another plastic one this year because it was half the price of the metal base. Sucker only lasted TWO months. 🤦‍♀️

[@ClassicNathan]

We have been using a heated dog bowl for ours. It gets dirty but the chickens seem to like it. I thought about throwing a warmer (or a bird bath heater) in our bucket with nipples, but since the dog bowl works i havn't done anything else yet.

[@patriciaperry3783]

I went to Tractor Supply Warehouse, I use a 5 gallon metal water, with a metal heated base, it’s lasted for several years here in Rhode Island.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

Years?? Amazing! If this plastic set up fails us we will try the metal option. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@HeyWatchMeGo]

I've heard good things about your setup to Patricia. I see it's a year since your comment. Has it quit yet? If you remember the brand of heated metal base, I would really like to know. All bases are not created equal, I'm sure 😉. Thanks

[@epwand]

⁠​⁠@@HeyWatchMeGowe bought the plastic one with the three side drinkers and I seen water come out from were the cord comes out. The way its designed there should be no water leaking into the bottom, I feel its condensation buildup and than the unit fails. I have seen pictures of burnt bottoms on Amazon with complaints of leaking. Its a nice solid chicken waterer, however it will fail. It’s too bad, can’t see away to prevent condensation.

[@OurBackwoodsHomestead]

Wow thats cold! we get cold weather here in Nashville TN.....at times its gets that cold. I'm looking at different waterers I like the one that you can fill from the top just screw off the top. You can get a cement block and put a light bulb in it then sit your waterer on top keeps it from freezing.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

We like that one too. Now if the chickens would just use the darn thing!

[@OurBackwoodsHomestead]

@@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse Yeah you never know what chickens 🐔 are gonna do.

[@deanrichardson3158]

Great video . Thanks 🙏

[@mattmiller-iv9qz]

the base works good w non electric 5 gal or put hot water and let cool down

[@timbit7845]

Good info! Thanks eh

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

You betcha.

[@AstroRef68]

Thanks for the video Can you please tell me the name of the one you like the most to see if I can get it on eBay

[@TheVanessa1957]

What brand is the red plastic heater base

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

I think it was K&H.

[@scophyaluo2031]

how about H&G lifestyles chicken waterer? 4 gallons foldable bucket with 3 nipples seems very nice.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

I am not familiar with that one but I'll check it out. :)

[@johngayton1629]

Use an aquarium heater.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

Interesting idea! Does that work down to -32 F?

[@johngayton1629]

@@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse I don't know. Never been that cold here, but for $20 it's worth a try. I've been using one for a month, now and it has been below zero several times.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

@@johngayton1629 Nice! What sort of watering vessel do you use?

[@johngayton1629]

@@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse Right now, Ijust have a round 5 gallon plastic bucket with a hole cut in the side, half way up, so they can stick their heads in to get water. The heater lays on it's side in the bottom and the bucket has the lid on to help keep the water clean.

[@RoughandTumbleFarmhouse]

@@johngayton1629 Neat set up!