If you have raised any kind of pet, then you know that you need to provide it with fresh drinking water, not only in summers but all year-round. Providing water in winters can be a challenge, and standard chicken waterer is not enough, especially when it comes to backyard chicken coops.
If your chickens cannot access their water, you are in trouble. When temperatures consistently drop below freezing, then you want to consider a heated chicken waterer. This will ensure steady supply of water for your flock despite the plummeting temperatures.
Heated chicken waterers consist of a heating coil that operates thermostatically to keep the water from freezing. This ensures that your birds do not have to go thirsty no matter what the temperatures outside.
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Top Heated Chicken Waterer
1. Farm Innovators HB-60P Heated 2 Gallon Poultry Drinker
Farm Innovators is a big name when it comes to poultry products. Their HB-60 P heated waterers provide clean, warm water to backyard chickens, even in peak winters. The 2 gallon waterer comes with three, side-mounted, freeze-free, and easy-to-operate nipples for the birds to drink from.
You can safely place this waterer on the ground or hang it up with the wire provided. This thermostatically heated waterer operates at 60 W and comes with an easy-to-open top lid which makes refilling a breeze.
Key features
- Top-rated, best-selling heated waterer for chickens
- The unit is easy to use, refill, and clean owing to its wide opening
- Sturdy and durable, this waterer lasts for years to come.
- Water stays clean and warm despite peak winter
- Value for money; hundred of happy customers
The one downside of this chicken waterer is that some birds may find it difficult to press the metal nipples to drink water from.
2. K&H Thermo-Poultry No Roost No-Spill Waterers
K&H Thermo poultry No-roost, No-spill waterers are thermostatically heated to prevent ice-formation in waters. It is also specially shaped to prevent roosting, ensuring mess-free drinking water for your birds all-year round. The trough also comes with a filter that removes debris from the drinking water.
Key features
- 2.5 gallon water tank capacity can easily keep a flock of about 10 birds hydrated for 2-3 days.
- Easy to use for the birds
- Ice-free water even at -20°F
- Filter easily removes fine shavings, hay, and bird droppings from the trough
- Can be used inside or outside the coop.
- The rounded top prevents birds from roosting and keeps the drinking water free from droppings.
Some of the drawback of this waterer are:
- It does not stand upright while filling.
- The mouth of the reservoir/tank is small which makes it a hassle when refilling it
- Not easy to clean owing to the small size of the opening. The unit tends to grow a bio-film after a few months of use, which can be tough to remove.
3. Farm Innovators Heated Water Bowl for Chickens
Farm Innovators water bowl comes with three non-freeze nipples that can feed water to your birds all year-round. It can be hung up or placed on a level ground. Thermostat helps in automatic heating of the water when temperatures fall below freezing.
Key features
- Easy to use and easy to clean
- Sturdy and durable
- Value for money
- Water stays clean
- Holds over 2 gallons of water
- Drip and leak-free nipples
- 60 W concealed heating element
- Removable lid for easy cleanup
Chickens need to be taught how to use the nipples.So may need to spend a bit of time at the beginning to make sure your flock is using the waterer.
4. Allied Precision 3.3-Gallon Heated Chicken Waterer
Make sure your birds get ice-free water in winters with the Allied Precision Ind 33 heated chicken waterer! This unit does not overheat the water as it has an energy-efficient heating system, and is thermostatically controlled.
Key features
- Easy to clean
- Sturdy
- Value for money
- Can be hung up; this frees up space in the coop.
Some of the issues user reported about this heated chicken waterer are:
- Leaks when placed on uneven surfaces.
- Loose parts and design flaws
- Water in the base dries up while that on top remains frozen. This tends to cause flow problems.
5. Harris Farms Heated Poultry Drinker Base
Harris Farms heated poultry drinker base can be used for metal or plastic founts. It turns on automatically and prevents water from freezing down to 10 F. The thermostatically controlled base uses only 125 W of power and can be used in small or large coops.
Key features
- Easy to use
- Fully automatic
- Sturdy and durable
- Value for money
- Useful for plastic and metal founts
Things to note:
- In some units, the thermostat shorted after a while.
- A few users complained of leaks
- Tends to be large and inconvenient for smaller coops.
Related post: The Best Chicken Feeder for Backyard Chickens
Factors to Consider When Buying a Heated Chicken Waterer
When buying a chicken waterer, keep the following in mind:
Size of your coop
If you have a smaller coop, you certainly do not want a very large waterer or even more than one waterer. The waterer you select should also have a facility to be hung up so that the unit won’t occupy too much of floor space in the small coop.
The size of the coop and the number of birds will also determine the capacity of the waterer. In general, a 2-gallon waterer can comfortably keep a flock of 7-10 birds hydrated for 2-3 days before having to be refilled.
Type of heating
The best heated chicken waterers are usually automatic. This means that they are thermostatically heated and usually operate at a power of about 60 W. This way; you can enjoy energy savings and your birds get adequate, ice-free drinking water despite the plummeting temperatures. Based on where you live, ensure that your waterer can operate at a temperature of at least -20 F.
Easy of use
Chickens are intelligent creatures and most quickly learn how to use the nipple-based waterers quite easily. However, some farmers find that, despite their best efforts, some birds are just unable to learn how to press metal-nipples in order to dispense water.
For them; it is best to go for a reservoir-trough design or heated water bowl. This way; it is easier for chicks and smaller birds to access drinking water, without the fear of drowning.
Cleaning
The best heated waterers for chickens ensure that their design prevents the birds from roosting on them. If birds roost on the waterer, they are sure to mess up their drinking water. Also, plastic waterers develop mold and bio-films on the inside. That is why it is important to clean the waterer from time to time.
It is a good idea to select a waterer that has a wide-enough opening that makes it easy to clean with a bottle brush/sponge. Some waterers also come with a removable filter that makes it easy to remove hay, bird droppings, wood shavings, and other physical impurities from the water in the trough.
Let us now review some of the best heated chicken waterers in the market.
Conclusion
Chickens need to stay hydrated not only in summers, but in winters as well.
If you live in cold areas where temperatures tend to go below freezing in winters, then you must keep heated waterers in your chicken coop. This way, your flock can get their fill of fresh drinking water and you don’t have to worry about frozen icy water.
I hope the reviews of the best heated chicken waterer help you make your selection!