COOKIE TIN WATER HEATER
Winter brings many challenges for the backyard chicken-keeper, and frozen water is chief among them. You can make your own waterer heater for use with either metal or plastic waterers. It will cost less than $10, cost pennies to run and you can complete the project in under ten minutes.
We had record-breaking, sub-zero temperatures for long periods of time in Connectictut last year and my waterers never iced over the way they used to without these heaters. It doesn't seem as though a lowly, 40 watt bulb should be able to produce enough warmth to keep a plastic waterer from forming ice on it, but remarkably, it does!
Here are the supplies you will need:
- 10", metal cookie tin (available at most dollar & thrift stores)
- lamp assembly kit (available at all hardware, big box and home improvement centers OR buy a thrift store/tag sale lamp and take it apart)
- 40 watt, incandescent light bulb
- Drill with 3/8" drill bit
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| 10" cookie tins can be purchased for $1 or less (or full of cookies for about $5!) |
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| Lamp assembly parts. Instructions: 1. Drill two holes in the cookie tin adjacent to each other. String the lamp assembly plug through one hole and the threaded, lamp stem through the other as shown below. |
2. Tighten the screw on the stem of the lamp assembly and screw in the light bulb. Viola!
TO USE:
Put the top on the cookie tin and place the tin on a cinder block either inside the coop or outside in the run. Plug into a GFI outlet. Place your metal or plastic waterer on top of the water heater when freezing temperatures are anticipated.
Disconnect water heater when not needed.
When I made my first cookie tin water heater, I found it difficult to believe that this device, which barely felt warm to the touch, could possibly do the intended job. I was only convinced the first frigid morning I went out into the run and found no ice ring to chip out of the waterer. You may have to try it to believe it too.
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ReplyDeleteWhy not run the cord through the hollow threaded rod? Then you won't have to worry about the hole in the tin chaffing the cord. One less hole to drill, too.
DeleteInteresting suggestion, I had no idea you could re-thread the cord through the rod. Good thinking!
DeleteThanks for the Wonderful Idea! I went right out and tried this myself. It is very easy and can't wait to use it: )I did use a fixture that the cord ran down the rod though.
Deletethis is so awesome even I can do it!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt really is very simple and effective. It's not going to keep your morning coffee piping hot, but it will allow you to avoid taking an ice pick to your waterer every morning in freezing temperatures!
ReplyDeleteI will definately be doing this. What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteHave to add this to DH's Honey-Do List!
ReplyDeleteAs an alternative to buying a commercial one for $48, I'm looking at this great idea seriously. Will pass along to the handy/manly sweetheart. Big chill predicted for this coming weekend. And I already have a tin.
ReplyDeleteDo you think a square tin would work, or would round be better for even heat distribution?
ReplyDeleteThe shape of the tin doesn't matter at all. Let me know how it works for you this weekend!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I bought a heated pet bowl for the regular sized chickens but its too deep for my little game sized chickens. Now I can use this idea for my little cuties! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHappy to pass along the information. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, I'm going to make one for the dogs. If you use a thermo cube on the plug end it will cycle on the electricity when the temperature drops below 35degree. That would make it unnecessary to unplug the unit when the weather warms up.
ReplyDeleteInteresting you should mention the thermo cube b/c I tried using them twice before with no luck. Have you had experience with them.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. I have one of the $50 heater bases. (Eek!) but I need another for my other side of coop with my 3 month olds in it. I am going to try it! My girls will be very thankful, and I will too!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Little Susie Home Maker
Did you try it yet, Little Susie Home Maker? Would love to see photos!
DeleteThe thermo cubes have been real time/energy savers for us. We've used them successfully for the heated dog mats, horsetank heater, and the heated water dish.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to give them another shot then b/c I wasn't persuaded that they really worked the first time.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to get down to 22 degrees F tonight, so I suppose now is as good a time as any!
Very neat idea. Any tests done to see how cold it can get and this method still work?
ReplyDeleteJeff
http://www.thebackyardchickencoop.com
Thanks Jeff. No official tests done but there were record breaking cold temperatures here in Connecticut last year and the chickens could always access the water even if a thin layer of ice had begun to form overnight.
ReplyDeleteI bought a seed germintaion mat, that is waterproof, exteremely low wattage and have used it for years with my birds. I had a friend who had a coop burn down because of a light bulb heater
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your friend's coop. Electricity is our friend when used responsibly and can be our worst enemy if not, regardless of the wattage.
ReplyDeleteSafety first folks. Safety first!
I'll have to show Hubby this one! Great idea! Wish I'd had seen this BEFORE I bought the $35. one at the feed store! This is such a great invention!
ReplyDeleteDidn't see any other place to post this...so...just letting you know I "Facebooked" the link to the Tree site and asked everyone to vote for a fellow chicken fancier. Fingers are crossed for you (and great blog site too! Looking foward to coming back and reading more)
ReplyDeleteThank you Bobbye Land Hudspeth! I appreciate your support! Please say hello on one of my recent Facebook posts as you qualify as an entrant in the HENBAG Giveaway for sharing my Egg Tree with your friends!!
ReplyDeleteWe're gaining on the leaders!!
You can use the same concept for a doghouse warmer. Here in Colorado, it seems a 25 watt bulb is sufficient, start there and go up if necessary.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteGood looking idea BUT I would like to mentionthat where the cord goes through the cookie tin is a potentialshrt circuit/fire hazard. The cord should go through the center of the lamp mount. This would kee the cord away feon sharp edges.
ReplyDeleteGood point. Thanks!
DeleteGreat! Unless you're "off-the-grid" like we are.
ReplyDelete@the Chicken Rustler: good point. Safety first.
ReplyDelete@farmhouse wife: Sorry you're 'off-the-grid." :(
So simple even a Caveman can do it
ReplyDeleteDo the chickens peck at the cord at all? I am afraid they might. Wondering about running the cord through a PVC pipe or something.
ReplyDelete@DownyChick: I worried about the same thing when installing the first one but they actually have no interest at all in the cord. I don't pretend to understand what motivates them sometimes but perhaps they're smarter than people give them credit for. :)
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ReplyDeleteHi, thank u for sharing this awesome way to save money and time! I posted the info on my facebook page Rainbow Farm Sales Chickens! Thank u again!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! And thanks for sharing. :)
DeleteLove! Only wish I'd seen it sooner, as DH instead built a pvc waterer with those nipples nipples and wrapped it with heat tape and insulated it... and $100 later, the water still freezes!!!
ReplyDeleteOuch! Well, glad you found this eventually, at least this little number will work the way you hope it will. :)
DeleteLove the idea..
ReplyDeletewe bought a heated dog bowl.. gets a bit dirty with the girls flying down from the roost & all.
But after YEARS of dealing with frozen water bowls, it's worth cleaning once a week..
Thanks. :) Frozen water is a drag, isn't it?
DeleteThis was just a great idea that I showed my hubby and he made one for our birds!
ReplyDeleteThank you.