My guess is that when the temps are low enough to freeze the water, the water won't be that warm.... I think I'd stick with the 60, you can always go down later if the water would happen to be warm this winter. I think it looks great!
Home made base to keep waterer from freezing?
Hey Loon, great job by you and hubby. Congrats!!! Looks great and I just happen to agree with Melissa. When it really gets cold 60 watt sounds just about right, and yes! when your cold doesn't a warm cup of water sound good. LOL. Haystack
Good Job!!!!
Loon, how do you change the bulb? Do you have to take the plexiglas off or can you do it from the bottom?
We run the cord to our commercially-made heated base through a pvc pipe from the point at which it enters the chicken yard to the base itself, so the chickens can't peck at it. It's worked well so far.
Yes, if we have to change the bulb, we'd have to take out the two small screws holding the plexiglass down.
We have a store bought heated dog bowl we're using for the barn cats. It has coiled wire over the cord to protect it. We were able to pull the cord to the chicken warmer through the wall at the wall so there is nothing exposed for them to peck at. My son is a master plumber so we have plenty of pvc pipe around I could use if I needed to. I'll have to look more closely and make sure nothing is showing. If so I'll use your tip of the pvc pipe.
If it's more convenient to have it further out, pvc pipe works well. My hens are rather territorial so I like to have as much space as possible for the less aggressive ones to find a place to drink so I wouldn't want the waterer up against anything. Who thought I'd have to play psychologist to a bunch of chickens!!!