55 gallon waterer in northern Wisconsin winter?

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blucoondawg said:
Well I got the barrel put together and filled, now I just have to make sure they figure it out. I don't have the greatest yet but it's been unseasonably warm so I should be fine until I get to town and pick one up. The nipples threaded in just fine with a 3/8 hole drilled. The biggest problem is getting the hole nice and straight, if not the nipples end up sort of crooked but they still seem to seal alright
Click to expand...


A 1/8" pipe thread tap or a metric M10-1.0 tapered tap work wonders with the nipples using an 11/32" or 9mm drill bit...
 
400


I said I'd post a pic of my barrel, finally got the tank heater installed today I've had the barrel out for a week or so now without hear but it hadn't froze hard until last night, even without the heat this morning the nipples were still thawed and when I opened it to install the heater it only had a very light skin of ice floating in the top edges. I think it should work good. Just took the one picture but there are nipples all the way around at different heights going from around 10 inches for the banties ask the way up to 22 inches high or so for my rooster and a couple in between heights for average size hens, the brahmas and large Cochin can reach the roosters nipple. This is a great improvement for my coop in able to keep my breeding much drier than with the fountain.
 
The barrel system is working great so far it hasn't frozen at all with the stock tank heater, though we haven't had as much severe cold as is usual this winter. I removed the small plug from the top and installed a 3/4 inch pipe with a quick connector so I can just drag out the hose and snap on for a quick refill. I am going to make some modifications in the spring when I can switch to an auto waterer after the freezing weather subsides. The main thing I want to address is installing something on top to prevent the birds from sitting on it and getting it all crapped up, besides that it's a perfect setup
 
Last edited:
aart said:
You need a BAC....Big ***** Cone.
I'd cobble one out of cardboard.
Click to expand...
yes some sort of cone, I am going to try to fashion one of welded wire like 2x4 wire that I've got laying around, I'm going to attach it to the steel seal on the barrel lid, the wire will still be flexible enough to allow the ring to open for cleaning yet stiff enough to keep the birds off
 
I haven't had need for a pan the nipples don't leak much. A couple times the we small ice globs starting on the floor but when it warmed up they melted. If for some reason I build a new one I may do an elevated set up like yours so all my nipples can be closer to the bottom which will allow me to take advantage of the full volume of the barrel
 

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