[Foxy]

Sorry to be a worry guts - the handwarmer contains sodium acetate. If it leaked into the water would it harm the birds? It does look a very elegant solution though.  Unlike mine - I am testing it over night to see if I can use it tomorrow while I am at work. Will post pics and explanation if it is successful.

I think the handwarmers should be OK they are designed to EU safety standards and are used for children -but wise to check they are patent every time used.

Be interested in your idea -there are a lot of peeps here with horses!  

My OH has just suggested putting bricks in the oven and then placing the drinkers on top :shock:

[Sassy]

Am I right in thinking re the horse manure/compost idea that it would have to be already well on its way to breaking down to have the necessary heat? Also wouldn't you need a very large pile of it to maintain the heat?

Sorry to be a pain but I poo pick my paddocks daily and you could use the poo to play golf with at the moment as its well frozen. Its great as the job is a lot easier!!

[karlooben]

i would use manure of the muck heap as its already nicely heated and i should think that a bucket full should do for now { place wood ontop of the bucket then the water container on top } , i could not do mine today as we had probs down the stables, the main water tap burst at the seems an water was going everywhere another slippery morning tomorw at 5,30 am  :cry:  :cry:  as well as 8 ton of hay being  deleived    so it was chaos for me and i did not get back tell its was getting dark. i cant see no reason why it would not work

[Nogger]

how do you stop the drinking water from freezing?

are you on a water meter,if not flowing water may help

[Aunt Sally]

I've got the fish tank heater my chooks water now (a la Munty)

[desandchez]

we are on an allotment and the council have turned off the water for the winter anyway I dont think Icould justify the waste