Water freezing

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imagery said:
This is the "Hen Hydrator" I picked up from Big R. Works great.



This is what I did to winterize it. Sorry for the bad picture. I didn't want to take my glove off in the blizzard, so this is a shot take using my nose on my iPhone.



I bought 12' of electrical heat tape from Home Depot and wrapped it around the hydrator about 5 times. I secured the heat tape using foil duct tape (stiff aluminum foil stuff that is really sticky). I then wrapped the whole hydrator in foil backed fiberglass insulation which is about 2" thick. I covered all the exposed fiberglass with the same foil tape so the chickens wouldn't peck at it.

Despite being covered in snow, 22F outside, and blowing at about 30 mph, the water is not frozen and comes out the nipples at the bottom just fine. This is the first easy going test. If it works when it gets to be 0F outside, I'll declare victory.
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Good luck! But keep checking the nipples to make sure they aren't froze up. I've seen many people say that the water on the inside was not frozen due to the heater, or tape, but that the nipples themselves were frozen. I've not seen one with vertical nipples which made it to zero. about 15 degrees is about the lowest i've seen... Maybe someone else will chime in on that, someone who has tried vertical nipples in the winter.
 
You may be right. I checked on it and they were frozen. I don't suppose the chickens would peck the frozen water off, because the inside is not frozen.
 
I would not count on it, sorry to hear that.
sad.png
finding a working waterer for winter is difficult.
 
There are hydrophobic sprays that completely repel water. If I can stop the water from collecting on the tip of the metal nipple so that it just drops off once it gets to the end, maybe it won't freeze. There's this stuff called NeverWet (http://www.neverwet.com/anti-wetting.php) that worked to repel water even when submerged in the ocean for over a year. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.
 
Wood Dude said:
I'm using a cat litter box that's about 5 gallon with a 250 watt poultry heater(he ultimate bucket heater from K& H Farm Essentials. the heater turns on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees. I used 5 horizontal oriented  watering tips. I set in up on a concrete block to make it easier for the girls to drink. They like it and its clean. The tips came from Barry C and are easy to install. Check the Barry C site for instructions or make a call. I used liquid tape to project the electrical connection from Home Depot.
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what Barry c site?
 
Since I am against heat lamps we have been using a heated water bowl meant for dogs and it has been great! Only frozen over once when the electricity was down (glad I did not have a heat lamp on them) but we just refilled it with water then the electricity was back on.
 
Rooster Rules said:
So do I work day shifts, keeping Canadian Society safe from criiminals. I suggest you carefully read my post.
There are only so many options, I'll list them again for you, 1) heated coop, not ideal in a lot of situations for a myriad of reasons, 2) heated water source, and 3rd) haul water out as often as you can. In my case, in my outdoor run, fill water containter in morning, and have heated water source in coop too, holds them till I get home 13 hours later.
Now if you do not have electricity, what other option is there? Cuz I would be interested in trying it.
If you don't like my suggetion to search for answers and options, cannot help you there either. I am being candid and really believe using the "Search" feature can really help, and allow anyone to find answers to their questions, and solutions to their problems. PS did I ruffle your feathers? ........The RR
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I think you missed the bucket and leaves method posted in this new thread. I did a search and didn't find this previously. A wonderful solution from observation. I honestly could not put together any of the fancy things. I also don't have a freezing issue. In winter here it goes as low as 5 degrees celcius and around 28 celcius during the day.
 
The vertical nipples will freeze up. The horizontal ones don't. I have 2 waterers in 2 different coops and the horizontal nipples are working just fine. It has been COLD here in Northern Ohio!! I use a birdbath deicer in the bottom of a bucket. I have a heated dog bowl for backup.
 

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