I\'ve used the heated bases before and then you set the rubber or plastic buckets or bowls on top of them, but they don\'t last for years and years, and the mice like to live in the nice heated condos they provide underneath. I was just digging through the old horse stuff to pull out the kind of water heater that you stick right in to the water. I don\'t like them though. I\'ve been bringing out hot water to top off the ice twice a day too. The birds huddle around the steaming bucket like its a campfire. They do seem to like warm water. I might try those heated bowls, but I\'m running out of electrical outlets! I was concerned about the moisture the hot water was causing. This morning I found dark tips on my Faverolle\'s combs already and its not even Christmas yet! I just can\'t seem to get single combed birds through the winter without frostbite damage to their combs, makes it hard to show old cocks. Makes me appreciate my Ameraucana even more.