Homemade Heated Waterer

Homemade Heated Waterer LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Mike Roub of Chickaloon Alaska got tired of replacing the infrared heat bulbs on his heated chicken waterer so he came up with his own design He used 1/8-in steel to weld together a 1-ft square box with a hinged door on front Inside the box he mounted a thermostat and a porcelain light fixture for a 60-watt light bulb A plastic waterer sets on top of the box and is warmed by the box’s top plate “I built it in a couple of hours with stuff I already had and wish I had come up with it sooner ” says Roub “I had been using an infrared bulb suspended over a waterer but I went through too many bulbs Also I had to close the chicken coop to keep it warm enough inside so the water wouldn’t freeze I couldn’t bring myself to pay $75 for a cheaply-built commercial heated waterer ” says Roub “The heat on my waterer is where it needs to be right under the water I set the thermostat at 80 degrees and the light cycles on and off accordingly The box stays warm but not hot - I can hold my hand on top of it with no problem I now go through only about one light bulb per year “Now I can leave a small door on the coop open and let the chickens go in or out even in winter ” he says “Allowing the chickens to free-range this way has made an amazing difference They stay healthier and don’t peck on each other as much which keeps their plumage in better condition ” He covers the area around the box with wood shavings that serves as bedding “I made the box tight enough to keep bedding from getting near the heat source and I bent down the oversized edges on top of the box to keep any water that gets spilled away from the electricity ” notes Roub Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mike Roub P O Box 1236 Chickaloon Alaska 99674 ph 907 232-4323; mroub3@gmail com

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