Nice to see someone review this actually use it outdoors. I just bought this waterer for my chooks and live in central IL. My run is partially covered with a tent and I have covering around the fences for big strong winds. After seeing this review I have a bit more faith that it will work on the days I need it
Thank you for the review! I have been looking for something different for our chickens and I think with your helpful review I have found it. Thank you again!
Just found your channel by searching RUclips for "heated chicken waterer". Great, concise video from someone who has used the product for a while. Subbed! Thanks.
I started raising chickens 15 years ago and didn’t know they had heated poultry waterers. I picked up a heated dog dish for $15 and I’m still using it. Uses 45 watts and shuts off when it’s warm out too. I use the same thing for my rabbit colony.
We have one of the heated dog dishes as well, but they manage to fill it up with all sorts of stuff in less than a day. Since we moved to hanging the heated waterer, it’s been much cleaner.
Or Canada... we get cold! Lol ... my husband and I both just laughed that you skipped around Canada up to Alaska!... we found your channel last week and are working our way to catch up!!
I ordered one of these back in November. I guess I'm hesitant to use it because of the fact I'd need to hook up an extension cord and run it to the coop. Also I don't have an outdoor spicket that wont freeze. I'm still using my 5 gallon top fill. A couple mornings I have to break ice up around the base on the outside. I take a 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallons of hot water out to my duck coop then the rest goes into my chicken waterer to warm the rest of the water. I have 50ish fowl and live in the berkshires. Love following yal on Instagram but I usually dont have enough service to watch your videos. Wonderful family!
Hey Gina! Most modern extension cords are grounded, and while the fountain isn’t, it’s all plastic so no real threat of it going live and making fried chicken on you! I’d give it a shot if you have a cord long enough. It’s nice to go a few days without having to worry about the chickens, though if you’re already tending ducks, it might not make a huge difference in your chore time.
at 3:36 all I could think was, "Pocket omelet coming up!!" :) Thanks for the review. We have struggled to find a heated waterer we like. This year we have landed on just swapping waterers out during the day. I wonder if maybe using a new gas can with a spout would make it easier to fill?
It would definitely be quicker. I’m also thinking about getting a cheap garden hose and cutting it to about a foot long so we can just toss the waterer under it and stick the hose in the hole. It would be short enough to drain completely and not freeze, but long enough to bridge the gap between spigot and hole.
Great review I was looking at those. Still on the fence trying to figure out if I could get it hooked to solar somehow? ... Psstt small kitchen $1 plastic funnel would save a lot of water spilling
It could be done. 12v battery bank, inverter, panel and a controller would have you in business, but then you start getting in to cost vs benefit conundrums. I know it spills A TON! We used to have a funnel, but it took a lot longer to fill without a vent. We spill about half a gallon each fill, but the well is like 15ft from the coop, so it just ends up draining back into the water table.
@@TheMindfulHomestead I have a bit of that already gear already and teaching myself to build some panels. I don't try to justify the price I'd like to be offgrid before i retire to get rid of those ever rising bills so to me doing one project at a time is worth it. the battery banks can get tricky it get's down to -40 F/C (doesn't matter at -40 they both meet :P) So tinkering with some passive solar heating in the barn which wouldn't require batteries.
We have no power at our coop, so heated water containers won't work sadly. Some of you may be in the same situation. I bring my water jug in at night, and bring it out in the morning (3? gallon) and it will only freeze solid if it's SUPER cold (teens or lower). We have a back-up jug, so on those few super cold days I'll swap it out early afternoon. But In the southern NH climate that's happened 5-6 times so far this year. Not a huge deal, but also less then perfect!
I've had five of these for four years. One base cracked, and was repaired with scrap plastic, rivets and silicone. Four of the five red handles have broken. (The hens broke two, and two broke when I picked them up.) I removed the handle from the fifth and made a rope handle like the others so I wouldn't have to deal with it in winter. The cords can't be removed during moderate weather, and the clips on the bases of the newer ones catch clothing when carried, and assure that the cords get dirty and that the plugs corrode. Lastly, after about three years, the translucent containers become brittle and crack very easily. Window tape has worked to seal three, but one has simply crumbled. I'd pay $95 each for these waterers if the cords could be removed, and if they didn't become brittle with time.
Pretty good review. Luckily I live in and area where it does not freeze hard enough to need a heated waterer. Seeing how big that egg was, I know why that hen was making so much noise!
If these things had a strain-relieved cord that was removable for summer use, a much stronger handle, and were made from plastic that didn't degrade in the sun, they'd be worth twice the price. As they are now, handles break, cords fray and in time, containers crack and crumble. I replace handles with rope, put about 6" vinyl tubing sleeves on the cords, try to keep them out of the sun, use window tape to seal cracks and handle them carefully. ...Even so, they still only last about three years before just crumbling. TIP: If you push a nickel into the rubber cap, it will be tighter and stay sealed.
That water heater is awful, the top section will freeze solid I could send you pictures of its failure in a 2/4 vapor barrier insulated chicken coop with 1 chick per 3 feet square.
It was -12°F out this morning when I went to check on the birds before work and the water was liquid from the bottom to the top. Heads up that you don’t want to put water in a coop in the winter anyway. It creates a humid environment that actually facilitates frostbite. In fact, coops shouldn’t be insulated either. You’re looking for a solid wind break and a roof, nothing more. It should be well ventilated year round.
Nice to see someone review this actually use it outdoors. I just bought this waterer for my chooks and live in central IL. My run is partially covered with a tent and I have covering around the fences for big strong winds. After seeing this review I have a bit more faith that it will work on the days I need it
Thank you for the review! I have been looking for something different for our chickens and I think with your helpful review I have found it. Thank you again!
You’re welcome!
We go well below zero here in Minnesota. Thank you for the review! ~Heather
Bear Bottom Acres No problem! It should work out for you! Good luck in the frozen north!
Great review! Yeah I don't like the cords in the dirt, having that handle to knot it around was handy
The Citystead The cord in the dirt was terrible. We didn’t tie the cord up for the first few months. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner!
Just found your channel by searching RUclips for "heated chicken waterer". Great, concise video from someone who has used the product for a while. Subbed! Thanks.
I started raising chickens 15 years ago and didn’t know they had heated poultry waterers. I picked up a heated dog dish for $15 and I’m still using it. Uses 45 watts and shuts off when it’s warm out too. I use the same thing for my rabbit colony.
We have one of the heated dog dishes as well, but they manage to fill it up with all sorts of stuff in less than a day. Since we moved to hanging the heated waterer, it’s been much cleaner.
I'll share this with one of my friends that needs water for the chicks in her unheated barn. Havn't seen any like this around here.
Quebec Homestead It’s a good one. If they have power out there or can run a cord, it’s the one to have.
Thanks for the reviews. Yeh,I agree I think the kind you refill from top is better design.
For sure, especially if they are sitting on the ground. No one like cleaning up a poop covered waterer plug.
Or Canada... we get cold! Lol ... my husband and I both just laughed that you skipped around Canada up to Alaska!... we found your channel last week and are working our way to catch up!!
You Canadians are just a rare breed!
I ordered one of these back in November. I guess I'm hesitant to use it because of the fact I'd need to hook up an extension cord and run it to the coop. Also I don't have an outdoor spicket that wont freeze. I'm still using my 5 gallon top fill. A couple mornings I have to break ice up around the base on the outside. I take a 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallons of hot water out to my duck coop then the rest goes into my chicken waterer to warm the rest of the water. I have 50ish fowl and live in the berkshires. Love following yal on Instagram but I usually dont have enough service to watch your videos. Wonderful family!
Hey Gina! Most modern extension cords are grounded, and while the fountain isn’t, it’s all plastic so no real threat of it going live and making fried chicken on you! I’d give it a shot if you have a cord long enough. It’s nice to go a few days without having to worry about the chickens, though if you’re already tending ducks, it might not make a huge difference in your chore time.
So, the cord is detachable? If so I am sold. Thanks for the review.
It’s not detachable per se, but you can simply tie it up to the handle on top and it’s out of the way.
@@TheMindfulHomestead Gotcha! Thanks for the reply. That’ll still work for a summer waterer.
Do you still like it? I live in NH and I'm sick of changing the water twice a day every day in the winter lol
at 3:36 all I could think was, "Pocket omelet coming up!!" :) Thanks for the review. We have struggled to find a heated waterer we like. This year we have landed on just swapping waterers out during the day. I wonder if maybe using a new gas can with a spout would make it easier to fill?
It would definitely be quicker. I’m also thinking about getting a cheap garden hose and cutting it to about a foot long so we can just toss the waterer under it and stick the hose in the hole. It would be short enough to drain completely and not freeze, but long enough to bridge the gap between spigot and hole.
Great review I was looking at those. Still on the fence trying to figure out if I could get it hooked to solar somehow? ... Psstt small kitchen $1 plastic funnel would save a lot of water spilling
It could be done. 12v battery bank, inverter, panel and a controller would have you in business, but then you start getting in to cost vs benefit conundrums.
I know it spills A TON! We used to have a funnel, but it took a lot longer to fill without a vent. We spill about half a gallon each fill, but the well is like 15ft from the coop, so it just ends up draining back into the water table.
@@TheMindfulHomestead I have a bit of that already gear already and teaching myself to build some panels. I don't try to justify the price I'd like to be offgrid before i retire to get rid of those ever rising bills so to me doing one project at a time is worth it. the battery banks can get tricky it get's down to -40 F/C (doesn't matter at -40 they both meet :P) So tinkering with some passive solar heating in the barn which wouldn't require batteries.
Man water in the winter is a huge pain. We haul jugs to fill our heated water
SunnySlope Homestead Such a pain sometimes.
We have no power at our coop, so heated water containers won't work sadly. Some of you may be in the same situation. I bring my water jug in at night, and bring it out in the morning (3? gallon) and it will only freeze solid if it's SUPER cold (teens or lower). We have a back-up jug, so on those few super cold days I'll swap it out early afternoon. But In the southern NH climate that's happened 5-6 times so far this year. Not a huge deal, but also less then perfect!
That’s a great tip!
I've had five of these for four years.
One base cracked, and was repaired with scrap plastic, rivets and silicone. Four of the five red handles have broken. (The hens broke two, and two broke when I picked them up.) I removed the handle from the fifth and made a rope handle like the others so I wouldn't have to deal with it in winter. The cords can't be removed during moderate weather, and the clips on the bases of the newer ones catch clothing when carried, and assure that the cords get dirty and that the plugs corrode. Lastly, after about three years, the translucent containers become brittle and crack very easily. Window tape has worked to seal three, but one has simply crumbled.
I'd pay $95 each for these waterers if the cords could be removed, and if they didn't become brittle with time.
Pretty good review. Luckily I live in and area where it does not freeze hard enough to need a heated waterer. Seeing how big that egg was, I know why that hen was making so much noise!
Lucky!! We've been ok this winter for the most part since it's been warmer than usual, but not warm enough to move to a bowl or unheated waterer yet.
We love our heated waters
They are the best!
If these things had a strain-relieved cord that was removable for summer use, a much stronger handle, and were made from plastic that didn't degrade in the sun, they'd be worth twice the price.
As they are now, handles break, cords fray and in time, containers crack and crumble.
I replace handles with rope, put about 6" vinyl tubing sleeves on the cords, try to keep them out of the sun, use window tape to seal cracks and handle them carefully. ...Even so, they still only last about three years before just crumbling.
TIP: If you push a nickel into the rubber cap, it will be tighter and stay sealed.
That water heater is awful, the top section will freeze solid I could send you pictures of its failure in a 2/4 vapor barrier insulated chicken coop with 1 chick per 3 feet square.
It was -12°F out this morning when I went to check on the birds before work and the water was liquid from the bottom to the top.
Heads up that you don’t want to put water in a coop in the winter anyway. It creates a humid environment that actually facilitates frostbite. In fact, coops shouldn’t be insulated either. You’re looking for a solid wind break and a roof, nothing more. It should be well ventilated year round.
4Chickens I hab
at 3:36 4Chickens i