How to Make a Heated Poultry Waterer

Keep your poultry hydrated: Prevent freezing with a heated waterer.

Whether you raise chickens, ducks, guinea fowl or turkeys, they will need a fresh, accessible water source during the winter. Poultry waterers can be connected to a household or garage power source and rely on a simple light bulb to keep water from freezing in cold temperatures. A heated waterer sits atop a warmer to keep the water source elevated and free from shavings and fecal matter.

Things You'll Need

• 25- to 40-watt caged work light
• Heavy plastic bucket (warmer)
• 5-gallon plastic bucket (waterer)
• Dark-colored spray paint
• Drinker piece
• Rubber O-ring seal
• Brass nut
• Plastic tray larger in diameter than warming unit

Instructions

1. Run a power source out to the coop or other enclosure.

2. Spray-paint the bucket that will enclose the light bulb. This is the warmer. Spray paint will dim the light so as not to keep the poultry awake at night.

3. Screw a small hook into the bottom of the warmer bucket, from within.

4. Drill a hole in the bottom of the 5-gallon bucket, just inside the edge. Insert the drinker through the O-ring and then into the hole, and secure it by threading it through the brass nut on the interior of the bucket.

5. Hang the cage light on the hook inside the warming bucket and run the power cord underneath the edge of the overturned bucket.

6. Set the 5-gallon bucket on top of the overturned warming bucket. The drinker piece will extend beyond the edge of the warmer so the poultry can easily access it. For added stability, you can set the whole unit in a large tray, as long as the tray is larger in diameter than the watering system.

7. Fill the 5-gallon bucket with water.

8. Turn on the bulb on the next cold night.

Tips & Warnings

• These steps tell the poultry raiser how to construct a chicken waterer, with measurements for a chicken waterer nipple. If you are raising other types of poultry, consult a farm supply store for the proper type and size of waterer nipple for different animals.

• Start with a 25-watt bulb and gradually increase the wattage if 25 watts isn't strong enough to keep the water from freezing. Don't jump right to a high-wattage bulb, as this could be too hot and cause a fire.

References

• Avian Aqua Miser: How to Make a Homemade, Heated Chicken Waterer

Resources

• Backyard Chickens: Forum: Homemade Heated Waterer