Raising chickens properly can be a very demanding affair. This is more so the case if you aren’t operating a large-scale, automatic poultry farm. One of the most important issues you have to attend to is ensuring that your feathered friends have a readily accessible source of water at all times. This is the main reason you’ll need the best chicken water heater available.
Getting an efficient chicken waterer is important whether you’re rearing the birds in a cold or hot climate. However, if you want to ensure that the chickens have access to a constant water source in colder temperatures, you have to invest in a certain type of waterer or heater.
So here, we’ll be looking at some of the best water supplies you can introduce to your backyard chicken coop right now!
1. Farm Innovators Heated Base Poultry Founts Metal Waterer Heater HP-125
Don’t let their economical design throw you off. These electric water heaters are made of galvanized metal so they’re remarkably sturdy and highly durable.
What’s more, thanks to a sensor that automatically activates the heater when the temperature drops below 35℉, your chickens will be able to get their daily water requirements without stress in colder months.
As it warms the drinker base, melts frozen water, and enhances the flow of water, dehydration will never be a problem on your backyard chicken coop floor again!
Perhaps the best thing about this super-convenient product is that it’s adapted for use, not just on your backyard chicken coop floor, but also in runs and pens!
Finally, you won’t have to worry about this Farm Innovators product because it ensures consistent water circulation in your poultry. This heater is fitted with an ergonomic bottom cover that shields the heating element of the unit from dust and debris.
Pros
- This heater for drinker bases is optimized for outdoor use.
- It automatically activates in cold weather.
- It’s energy-efficient so it only needs a bit of electricity to run.
- Its protective bottom effectively shields the heating element of the heater from dust and debris.
- It’s optimized for use in various locations.
Cons
- It may make the drinking water lukewarm which can expose your chicken coop to bacteria.
- It’s a relatively expensive product.
2. ChickenGuardian Poultry Drinker Heater Base
The biggest selling point of this high-quality and reliable material for us is the fact that it has a highly accurate thermostat and efficient thermostatic control. This feature keeps the chicken water warm, even when you aren’t yet aware of the drop in temperature!
You won’t have to worry about hurting yourself when using this drinker base heater either as it has ample safety features in place. It’s also quite easy to install and maintain so you won’t have any problems maintaining the supply of fresh water to your chicken coop in the colder months.
Pros
- Its product dimensions are just right for most waterers found on a backyard chicken coop floor.
- It can keep up to 3 gallons of water unfrozen. It can also be easily paired with an auto feeder for increased comfort of use.
- It’s easy to install and clean.
- It’s an Amazon’s Choice product.
- It has several safety features in place.
Cons
- It doesn’t work as well with a metal waterer as it does with a plastic container.
- It doesn’t stop working, even on hot days. This results in especially warm water that the chickens might not like.
3. H&G Lifestyles Chicken Water Heater
And, because its heated base is made of stainless steel, a highly conductive, high-quality, and reliable material, you get to use only a bunch of electricity to generate more than enough heat to keep up the flow of water in the winter months.
This heated water element also comes with a reliable thermostat to better regulate the temperature of the water in metal or plastic waterers. However, it only has a 10-ft ground cord so, depending on your setup, you may need an extension cord.
The fact that it comes with a full 2-year warranty is a testament to the level of quality you can expect from this convenient product though, and it also helps that the device is energy-efficient.
Pros
- It can be used with plastic and metal drinkers.
- Thanks to its thermostatic control, you don’t need to make any additional input.
- It can keep the liquid in water bowls unfrozen in up to -10 degrees F.
- It comes with a 2-year warranty.
- It comes with a very detailed manual.
- It works great in a dry climate.
Cons
- Because of its height, it may not be suitable for use with baby chicks.
- You may need to invest in an extension cord if you don’t have a suitably positioned power source.
4. API Heated Chicken Waterer
The electric waterer and heated poultry fountain come with one of the best thermostatic control features. This effectively makes it the top choice for owners of chicken farms who don’t want to have to brave cold climates repeatedly, just to ensure their chickens have a heated and constant water source.
It’s an especially efficient chick waterer because it keeps this liquid at just the right temperature to facilitate optimal hydration at all times in the chicken coop.
Two of the best things about this high-quality metal design waterer is that, for one, it has an ergonomic funnel design that makes it very easy to refill its 3-gallon of water capacity tank.
Secondly, it comes with a handle made of galvanized steel. Because of this heavy-duty handle, you’ll be able to move this heated poultry waterer around your farm more easily.
It also places great emphasis on user safety andcomes with CSA as well as UL certification.
Pros
- It manages thermal energy efficiently.
- It’s easy to fill and comes with a 3-gallon of water capacity tank.
- It has an economical design.
- It’s made of high-quality and reliable material.
- It comes with a heavy-duty metal handle for easy mobility.
- It comes with several important certifications for enhanced user safety.
Cons
- It’s a very expensive product.
- The locking mechanism can be challenging to operate at first.
5. Dreyoo Poultry Pet Products Heated Base Chicken Water Heater
This automatic chicken water heater is a game changer when it comes to optimizing consistent water circulation and keeping water unfrozen and cool for animal consumption.
With just 125 watts of power and one of the best thermostatically controlled features, it ensures you won’t have to lift a finger when you have to make water available to your chickens at 0 and below degrees Fahrenheit.
In addition to this, the heated base is designed in a way that keeps your chickens unharmed, should they come in contact with it.
With its plug-and-play feature, you can save goodbye to frozen water in your chicken coop or chicken farms forever!
The best part of getting this product is that it’s optimized for outdoor use.
So, if you’re tired of racking up chore costs, just get this device, sit your chicken watering cup on its flat-top design, and watch it make your life easier!
Pros
- It can keep water liquid in extremely cold climates.
- It’s very sturdy.
- Its power cord is designed to be resistant to pecks and scratches.
- It’s easy to install and use.
- Its thermostatic control is very efficient.
- It’s great for outdoor use.
Cons
- It can’t be used in a damp environment.
- The unit isn’t completely sealed so you can’t use it for protracted periods outdoors.
How to Pick the Best Chicken Water Heater
As you know, a lot is riding on this decision so you need to be very careful when choosing the best chicken water heater for your feathered friends.
Along these lines, some factors you need to consider are:
The Type of Heater
There are different types of chicken waterer heaters you can use. These include:
Base Drinker Heaters
A base drinker heater goes under your chicken waterer and warms the clean water from there. These are typically electric water heaters and may be the right choice for you if you don’t want to change your current waterer just yet.
The Built-in Heater
These units are placed inside the chicken waterer itself and so tend to work better if you already own an automatic poultry waterer unit.
Water Bowl Heaters
Heaters for water bowls are similar to heated bases in terms of operation but come with a higher risk of exposure.
Deicer Heaters
These units work well for chicken farms with a nipple waterer system in place. They don’t consume as much energy and are placed at the bottom of the chicken water nipple cups system for enhanced heat transfer.
The Type of Material Used
This is another major variable you have to give careful consideration to. What material is used to make the type of product you want to purchase has a significant influence over, not just how useful it is, but also how long you’ll be able to use it.
The construction material can also affect what kind of use you can put the chicken water heat to, in some cases.
As an example, some poultry owners add apple cider vinegar to the source of water their chickens drink from. If you do this as well, you have to avoid using metal drinkers as apple cider vinegar corrodes these materials.
The Ease of Use
The ultimate goal of getting the best-heated chicken water is to help you limit the time, effort, and chore costs involved in helping you keep your poultry hydrated.
Because of this, any automatic heating unit you get for your chicken waterer must be easy to access, fill, and clean.
In especially cold winter months, the last thing you probably want to do is spend longer than is absolutely necessary outdoors. So, make sure you go over the design of any chicken water heater you want to get thoroughly before making a purchase.
The Presence of Thermostat Control Capabilities
As you know, the weather in the cold winter months can dip suddenly. And, because you can’t always be around to adjust your automatic waterer’s heater to compensate for this, it’s always advisable you get a unit with top-notch thermostat control capabilities.
When your heated poultry fountain has this feature, it’ll be able to improve its heating measures in response to the changing weather.
FAQs
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Do I Need a lot of Electricity to Run My Chicken Water Heater?
No, you don’t.
These days, most chicken water heaters come fitted with energy-saving features so you don’t have to worry about the utility bill rising appreciably.
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How Many Times Should I Refill My Chicken Water Bowl?
This depends on the amount of water that they consume.
However, the daily water requirement for adult chickens is about 0.5 liters. So, you can use that as a yardstick and tweak it accordingly.
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Should I Leave the Waterer in the Chicken Coop?
Ideally, you shouldn’t.
This is more so the case in the winter months as excessive wetness can ultimately lead to frostbite.
Conclusion
We hope you now have all you need to find the best chicken water heater for your poultry.
As you now know, the best heated chicken waterer depends on how you intend to use it, the size of your flock, and what features you want in the unit.
Find other great ways to maintain your poultry birds here.
