Make a Cookie Tin Waterer Heater. Under $10, & 10 minutes!

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 2010 here in Connectictut and my waterers never iced over the way they used to without these heaters.  It doesn't seem as though a humble, 40 watt lightbulb should be able to produce enough warmth to keep the water in a plastic waterer from icing over, but remarkably, it does!

Supplies:

• 10", metal cookie tin (available at most dollar & thrift stores & likely in your garage or basement)
• lamp assembly kit (available oniline, at hardware & home improvement stores OR buy a thrift store/tag sale lamp and take it apart)0
• 40 watt, incandescent light bulb (in deep-freeze conditions, use a 60 watt bulb)(in light of the government phase-out, some users recommend 40 watt candelabra bulbs or CFL bulbs, but I have not, so I cannot vouch for their effectiveness)
• Drill with 3/8" drill bit

Lamp assembly parts.

Instructions:
1. Drill a hole in the side of the cookie tin.

2. String the pre-threaded lamp stem assembly through the hole & tighten the screw on the stem.

 3. Screw in the light bulb. Voila!

 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 metal or plastic waterer on top of the water heater when freezing temperatures are anticipated. Disconnect when not in use or use a ThermoCube to turn the unit on when temperatures reache 35°F.

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.

The Boston Poultry Exposition, November 6, 2011

"The Boston Poultry Exposition, since 1849, America's First and Oldest Poultry Show." This is the place for poultry fanciers to be on the first Sunday of November every year. I had been looking forward to this 162nd annual event for months, having reserved a vendor table for my business, Egg Carton Labels by ADozenGirlz. I received a text message from my husband on the way to the show, gently suggesting that I should resist the temptation to return home with new chickens. I made no promises.

 After seven days without electricity due to a freak, autumn snow storm rendered most of the state of Connecticut withouth power, I was happy to escape to Massachussetts and put the week's harships behind. Upon arrival to this beautiful farm, those troubles began to fade.

We were greeted by this beautiful, rooster ice sculpture, which became something of an altar to the Power of Poultry, as eggs laid throughout the show were placed reverently upon it.

This is the exhibition hall. What this photo does not depict is the cacophony generated by birds that rendered conversation difficult at times. I was most amused by the bantam roosters trying fervently to have their voices heard above the din. 

My merchandise table, strategically located beneath a sunny window, which provided just enough heat to ensure that my gloves could remain in my pocket.

The sales of chicken hats was brisk, although this was not quite the intended customer. That beautiful, little bantam Polish hen was a most patient pet.

This judge clearly enjoyed his work. He could often be seen smiling at and talking to the birds.

This was an beautiful Araucana hen that was shown by a college student from Connecticut who breeds them for love of the breed. Note the rumplessness that is one of the hallmarks of this breed.

And the tufts that are the other hallmark of Araucanas. The gene that carries the tufted trait is a lethal gene that makes hatching these birds extremely challenging.

The ever-popular raffle portion of the day's events. I rather enjoyed the view of the kids in the crowd wearing our chicken hats  (that most of them had convinced their parents were required attire).

The birds packed up for home after a hard day's work of being beautiful.