How can I heat this in the winter?
1083564
Is this for feed or water? Assuming water--we keep containers in the coop during the cold months. Being South our winters are not as bad (except for this year). We also have a small electric heater in the coop that runs, on low at night. We also keep a close watch on the water container and change it every other day.Hope this is some help to you. Ann
1083565
I use a drop in heater that has a round red plastic cage around the element- it floats near the bottom of the bucket. It is temperature specific so it doesn't waste juice. It has worked well.
1083566
I don't think you can because it's plastic. We just bring a metal bucket of water out during the winter because it freezes up by the end of the day. The plastic bucket is prone to cracking because of the expanding from heat and cold. You might want to invest in a heated one, or just use it for the summer.
1083567
you would have to use a drop in heater - because it hangs, and is plastic, you can't use a metal heater (that a metal waterer would set on).
1083568
Mine did freeze this winter. I had to use a bowl and refill it frequently on days it did not get above freezing. If you have access to power you can place a bird bath warmer in your bucket and then hang it high so cords are out of the way. I do not have an outlet near my coop so I did not heat mine.
1083569
I don't think you can. I had to buy a large heated water bowl for the winter. It was around $19.99 but has to be cleaned often. I love the concept of the bucket with nipples but not all of my hens did.
1083570
I use a 250W pond deicer with a built-in thermostat purchased from Jeffers Livestock for around $40. It's smaller than most of the deicers I've seen. My husband cut a little notch in the rim of the bucket for the cord, to allow the lid to fit. It sits in the middle of the nipples on the bottom of the bucket. Been using this system for 3 winters. Works great!
315975
You probably could, but you wouldn't be able to use it in below freezing temperatures. You would have to drain it, which is easy as it has a valve designed for it.
1265409
Yes. You can keep it plugged in and it will only heat as needed. I only unplugged it in the late spring after night temps were way above freezing. Worked great all winter!
192721
This can handle it. Be aware though, this has the power to heat a small house in the winter.
844089
I installed one a 500 square foot three season cottage in Maine and it heats immediately with virtually no sound. I would expect it would work well in winter as well.
1423435
I just drain it. It does end up getting snow melt and snow in it during the winter, and i'm sure it does freeze that way......but it hasn't cracked on me yet, there must be enough stretch to it.
82534
Place it in a central location that would be convenient to heat the whole house but away from thermostat. Order the blower attachment and keep the doors on rooms not in use open only a little ways. My stove heats an area that is 1456 sq. ft. and I very rarely run my furnace even in the winter time. The winter in West Pa was terribly cold last year.
1695947
We use a heating pad but they dont stay hot long. Probably should heat in pot of water.
312343
If it is not a big mess. you might try feeding it to birds. They have a hard time getting food in winter sometimes.
5801
They tell you not to leave it up year round, but I did. You need to drain it below the hose holes a couple inches.Then remove all hoses and the valves. Shock well and put in some algecide. I let it uncovered.I live in the North were it get below freezing for 2 -3 months. Once it Thaws out put some more shock and algecide in it the put the hoses and valves back on,then hook up the pump when there's no more chances that it will freeze. Also they now sell a solar blanket that fits perfect and will help warm it up..
105541
I just used K&H; self warming pad, with old small blanket I had laying around. I also had it up on my deck & had it wind block with a tarp. I made sure I had it turned out of the wind & snow could not get in. Hope this will help you :)
1631521
If you had enough insulation you could heat it with a light bulb. But I am going to say I doubt it would work. It works well to augment the heat in a cold room with bad windows.
757216
U have the blanket? Its pretty easy. Plug the 3 cables from the blanket into the back of the unit. Plug unit in, turn on power on the back. Then on the front push the power button. The timer should say 30 mins. Set it up to 60 mins by pushing the up/down buttons. Then adjust the 3 heat levels, to the temperature you desire, and push select. (A dot will appear next to the temp. Do this for all 3). Push start, climb in and enjoy!
606208
We usually just use either butter or cooking spray and that seems to work fine. It also may help if you "season" it first. Spray it with some cooking spray and let it sit in the coals -just like you were cooking something. Flip it a few times and let it cool.
197188
Put the heater in a bucket and then submerge the bucket in whatever is holding the water you are heating up. Hope this helps.
5802
They tell you not to leave it up year round, but I did. You need to drain it below the hose holes a couple inches.Then remove all hoses and the valves. Shock well and put in some altitude. I let it uncovered.I live in the North were it get below freezing for 2 -3 months. Once it Thames out put some more shock and agencies in it the put the hoses and valves back on,then hook up the pump when there's no more chances that it will freeze. Also they now sell a solar blanket that fits perfect and will help warm it up..
328133
I keep mine in the garage and run a Hydor 25w Hydrokable Substrate Heater coiled on top of the compost in the second box from the bottom. This is the second winter I've done this and can keep it plugged in without if getting so hot that it drives the worms out of the top bin but still warm enough that the top bin does not freeze even with the recent temps at close to 0F.