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...
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
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...
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...
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 heater 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...
Ya I'm just going to use regular hoses and drag one out once every so often and refill the barrel I can hook up in my basement and pull the hose out my firewood door, I have been thinking about a frostless hydrant but haven't gotten around to that yet. I'd probably just use auto fill out of a...
Ya I have read through some different ones, it seems the horizontal is the most trouble free way to go. I think installing them through the side of a barrel is the best way to go for winter, I will probably make a pipe system for warmer months when I can just leave the hose hooked up
Thanks for the 5 watt rule I figured there was something like that someplace. Yes I figured the barrel being closed would help, it will also be inside my coop which is usually a little warmer than outside air anyways. Hopefully it will work out well
Well with horizontal nipples there shouldn't be any water in the nipples the back side if the nipples are always in the barrel however the bit that dribbles out could freeze and keep building up that's my biggest worry I'll have to see what I can find for insulation the nipples should be here...
The stock tank heaters have their own thermostats they are meant to keep the water a little above freezing in thinking maybe 34-40 degrees. I could see having to refill barrel maybe one every 3 or 4 weeks the insulation would be something fairly simple maybe foil bubble wrap or a thinner...
That is what I want to do but not hear my coop, I want to insulate my barrel and heat that, wondering if anyone has an insulated barrel and has an idea on how small a heater I can get by with
So I have been thinking on some sort of large capacity water system for my coop for the last few years since it's just simply a pain in the rear to carry pails of water out every day. I am considering ordering some horizontal nipples and running them into a 55 gallon blue plastic drum...