Using aquarium heaters

[jmagill]

One question. Have any of you actually used an aquarium heater for your chickens?

I have. I use my small 25 watt one in a 2 gallon bucket with nipples. It worked great. My heaters do go 24 hours a day 6 months of the year.
I found that my chickens drank more water in the winter months because the heater kept the water warmer then any other heater I have used.
This equates with healthier chickens and more eggs through the winter. I have tried other heaters for keeping water unfrozen through the years
for the chickens, dogs and horses. They all fail eventually for different reasons.

The reasons I will stay with the aquarium heater.

It has not shattered on me yet. It has spent the last three months in the chicken supply box and and has been man handled and tossed around. Still in great shape.

It is the cheapest heater that I have found yet and with our hard water and long winters, it has held up as well as others that cost twice the price.

It keeps the water warmer that a bird bath deicer and therefore works better with the nipple waterer.

My chickens drink more because the water is warmer.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Where do you live and how cold does it get? That will make a lot of difference. Also what kind are you using--most are very poorly made pieces of crap. I've used a lot of aquarium heaters for their intended purpose and had them leak, bust and fail. For that reason I wouldn't use them nor recommend their use in a chicken waterer.

 

[jmagill]

I live in Wyoming. We average between 0 an 20 degrees most of the winter. Of course in gets much colder for periods of time.
I have had to scrape my windshield at least once every month this summer and the forecast for tonight is 27 degrees.

I am using this model. http://www.amazon.com/Hydor-T11702-...2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1283704167&sr=8-2

 

[greenmulberry]

Quote:
No I haven't, for the reasons I stated above. I have been electrocuted by them too many times to trust them, in an aquarium context where they are kept at ambient room temperature and away from critters and dust and whatnot. They do not have to crack to electrocute you, you will have no idea anything is wrong until you touch the water and get zapped.

I never run them in aquariums anymore without a grounding probe for that reason. I sure am not going to go to the trouble and expense of grounding my chicken water.

 

[woodmort]

greenmulberry I entirely agree--was just hoping to keep others from the "Darwin" solution.

 

[AllTheseCreatures]

Quote:
LOL

The THEO looks like a great heater, next time I need to replace one of mine I take a good look at it. I'd rather use a heater designed for the purpose I'm seeking for the reasons I've already outlined. But, I'm glad you've had so much success. As far a I can tell the quality of aquarium heaters can vary quite a bit even across ONE model. I keep getting duds apparently and you've found the one that actually works consistantly.

 

[jmagill]

All our water heaters, whether they are for chickens , horses or dogs are plugged into a GFI for the simple reason that all those heaters
have the ability to be damaged and shock the stock or pets. Horses often feel this leaking electricity and will not drink from a water trough with a damaged heater.


It is also part of the safety instructions on most of those heaters that you should not at any time touch the heater and the water at the same time.
Leaking electricity will shock you.

 

[jmagill]

Then again, maybe my animals are just use to electrical shocks. They have all had encounters with the electric poultry fence and the only fencing we have for the horses is electrical rope.
I myself am well acquainted with all the electrical fencing. I am the official tester as I am always bumping into it.

 

[Wolfwoman]

A titanium submersible aquarium heater would work just fine. How do I know? I clean skulls, I clean skulls in an unheated building in the winter, in Alaska (thing 40 BELOW). I had a 250W heater that did just peachy all winter, several winters in fact, until it inadvertently got unplugged and I tugged on the cord frozen in ice and wrecked it.

So yes, they would work. A good submersible titanium heater will run $25+, no breakable glass.

I'll probably be trying this THIS winter, as next winter I won't have electricity and will have to just bring them water 2x a day.

 

[crazyhen]

In tractor supply they have heated buckets for dogs that holds lots of water. It also has a none chewable cord. It was either 29 .99 or 39.99 I will end up with one of those. Gloria Jean