Winter Chicken Care: Are heated dog bowls safe for chickens?

Frozen water for your chickens can be a concern in winter, because chicken coops generally aren't heated. Their water may freeze even if you keep it inside the coop. Instead, you need a reliable, efficient, and safe heated water container that keeps the water temperature above freezing. This way, the chickens are never without fresh water, even when winter temperatures plummet. You might wonder if the same style of heated bowl you use for your dog can work for your chickens. So are heated dog bowls safe for chickens?

Are heated dog bowls safe for chickens?

Yes, heated dog bowls can be safe for your chickens. Electrically heated, thermostat-controlled dog bowls like the K&H Thermal-Bowl Heated Outdoor Water Bowl safely provide just enough warmth to keep the water from freezing, while only using 25 watts of power. Keeping the bowl out of the wind works best, and that's easy to achieve inside a chicken coop.

But while using an outdoor heated bowl for your chickens is possible, it may not be the best setup for chickens. For one thing, chickens are messy with their water. Feathers, food, bedding, and droppings can end up floating in the water, which isn't sanitary and makes more work for you. Also, bowls may be unsafe for small chicks, as they are a potential drowning hazard. So while you can water your birds this way, there are better options to consider.

Try a Heated Poultry Waterer

A smarter choice is to use a dedicated heated poultry waterer. This eliminates the problems present with a bowl. The design of the K&H Poultry Waterer prevents chickens from roosting on top of it, plus it keeps the water more debris-free, and is easier to clean. It also holds a handy 2.5 gallons of water. The 60-watt, thermostatically controlled heater only heats the water when it needs warming and is safe for your chickens and your coop.

Add a Deicer to Your Current Poultry Waterer

If you already have an unheated poultry waterer, you don't necessarily have to find another option for the winter. You can retrofit your current watering setup into a winter water bowl for chickens with a deicing product like the K&H Universal Waterer Deicer. This heater sits underneath an unheated bowl or waterer, keeping the water from freezing in cold temperatures. It’s fast and simple to install.

All K&H heated products are MET listed for safety assurance, meaning they've been tested by an independent lab for electrical safety and meet or exceed UL safety standards. Plus, all electrical parts are safely confined inside the casing where your chickens can't reach them.

Keep Your Birds Hydrated with the Right Tools

A heated dog bowl may work just fine, and it will keep the water from freezing. But it may get a bit messy with all the chicken's shenanigans. Choosing a heated poultry waterer designed specifically for chickens can keep the hens hydrated in cold weather while still keeping mess to a minimum.

This is the second article in our series on Winter Chicken Care. Watch our Instagram page for the final story in the series: How to Prevent Chicken Coop Fires. And if you missed the first one, be sure to read, How to Safely Winterize Your Chicken Coop.