I would like some ideas from you guys that have outside dogs. I need some ideas on how to make something I can use to keep my water buckets from freezing. A company by the name of Nelson makes a bucket heater but they cost $60.00+. Unforunately, I can't spend that much. Any help from you guys will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

we use 5 gallon bucket to water our hounds the best way to do it is don't feel them up much just good enough for the dog to get them a drink.


go deep hunt hard.

The electrically heated ones are high priced but the only alternative is what I do. I use the heavy rubber or Fortex buckets. Then I use a hammer to break the ice out. I try to water twice a day and that seems to work for my dogs.

I saw in Walmart a couple of days ago, a heated water bowl for $19.99. It holds I think 1.5 gallons. I think it uses about the same amount of electricity as a 50watt bulb. Take a look, I'm using one like it I paid $29.99 for and it is working great.

i dont know of any heaters but we used to just bring the water buckets inside the garage at night, let them thaw, and put out fresh water in the mornings. the dogs would usually drinnk quite a bit in the morning, and then around noon or so i would occasionally see them break thru the thin layer of ice that had formed. Or on really cold days, just keep the buckets in the garage and offer fresh water twice a day. dogs did fine this way, they dont need as much water in cold weather. although this method is a little more labor intensive, your probably going out to feed them twice a day anyway.