Another thread about nipples

[LaurelC]

I have a flock of 5 birds and initially got chicken watering cups, which they took to quickly. Upon further research, I realized that the cups will freeze when the temperature drops (duh) so I picked up some horizontal nipples and added a bucket with horizontal nipples into my run. The chickens have no interest in using them. I have put pieces of cracked corn on the little ledges and they know that water comes out, but they still prefer the cups (I don't blame them). I don't want to remove the cups from the run unless it's completely necessary. This obviously isn't a problem until it starts freezing, but I worry that when it does freeze, the birds will be so used to using the cups that they won't realize that water comes from the nipples and will be "without" water until I go back out and do some education. Is there a way to work this out with them?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I am not sure but I live in WA too and we don't get much freezing weather where I am, so I just put out a black rubber fortex tub (from Wilco) and fill it with water (turn it upside down on ground and step on it to remove ice) every day or twice a day if it freezes back up.

I only use the black rubber tubs during the freezing weather and so I thought I would mention it as an alternative if you don't like what you currently are using. They are nice because they are less likely to get tipped over than a regular pan.

 

[IdahoPrepper]

The nipples freeze too.......

I am working on a freeze-less nipple but didnt get much interest. If 100+ people said I want one I might pay for the drafting and machining of the prototypes.

 

[LaurelC]

My understanding is that with a bird bath heater or stock tank heater, the horizontal nipples will not freeze to the point of being nonfunctional. Is that incorrect?

 

[IdahoPrepper]

My understanding is that with a bird bath heater or stock tank heater, the horizontal nipples will not freeze to the point of being nonfunctional. Is that incorrect?

Depends on temp. Here in N idaho it gets really cold and they freeze. Also do you really want to pay for a 400-1200 watt heater 24/7 for 6-7 months? Ouch!

6 months at 500 watts 24/7 @ .10 kw = $220 dollars.

 

[LaurelC]

Depends on temp. Here in N idaho it gets really cold and they freeze. Also do you really want to pay for a 400-1200 watt heater 24/7 for 6-7 months? Ouch!

6 months at 500 watts 24/7 @ .10 kw = $220 dollars.

In the rainy side of the mountains near Seattle, it rarely gets into or below the teens. Running a 500w heater on a thermostatically controlled switch for the 3 weeks each year that it is actually cold here would cost hardly anything.

 

[LaurelC]

I am not sure but I live in WA too and we don't get much freezing weather where I am, so I just put out a black rubber fortex tub (from Wilco) and fill it with water (turn it upside down on ground and step on it to remove ice) every day or twice a day if it freezes back up.

I only use the black rubber tubs during the freezing weather and so I thought I would mention it as an alternative if you don't like what you currently are using. They are nice because they are less likely to get tipped over than a regular pan.

These have been on my radar, but when it's that cold outside, I'd prefer to avoid going out in the early morning hours to bring the birds water if I don't have to. Last winter we had ducks and I wasn't fond of 3x daily trips to ensure they had something to drink.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Depends on temp. Here in N idaho it gets really cold and they freeze. Also do you really want to pay for a 400-1200 watt heater 24/7 for 6-7 months? Ouch!

6 months at 500 watts 24/7 @ .10 kw = $220 dollars.

That's a good point. It also depends on how many birds/flocks. Time is money too. Three winters ago we had one of the harshest I can remember. I had 6 flocks that needed water brought to their rubber tubs 3 times a day through the deep snow for months. I would have gladly spent the $200 not to have to do so.
I'm in the middle of setting up bulk auto heated water for each flock. I know it will cost me in electricity but the chickens will also have access to clean water all winter and all I'll have to do is make sure the systems are functioning.

 

[Blooie]

My understanding is that with a bird bath heater or stock tank heater, the horizontal nipples will not freeze to the point of being nonfunctional. Is that incorrect?

Nipples thawed but icicle still there.



Yup, they will freeze and not function. But this only happened when our temps got to -17 and lower for several days in a row. Since we were going out to the coop first thing in the morning anyway it was no trouble to grab the heat gun and thaw them out, and it just took seconds. We also had to thaw the icicles that went from the nipples to the floor of the coop. We believe the nipples are too low on the waterer and the new bucket has them up higher. We'll also leave the waterer in the run this winter rather than moving it into the coop. The run is covered with clear greenhouse plastic and warms much quicker than the coop does. The water in the bucket never froze with the stock tank heater in it, just the little bit of residual water in the cups froze, but as the ice accumulated it pushed against the metal triggers and opened them, allowing more water out and exacerbating the ice buildup. I'd still rather take the few seconds it takes to run the heat gun over the nipples than haul a bunch of water out there when it's 20 below zero!

 

[IdahoPrepper]

That's a good point. It also depends on how many birds/flocks. Time is money too. Three winters ago we had one of the harshest I can remember. I had 6 flocks that needed water brought to their rubber tubs 3 times a day through the deep snow for months. I would have gladly spent the $200 not to have to do so.
I'm in the middle of setting up bulk auto heated water for each flock. I know it will cost me in electricity but the chickens will also have access to clean water all winter and all I'll have to do is make sure the systems are functioning.

You missed my point. I am developing a freeze-proof nipple but need many people to jump on board before I spend 2-3k at the drafters and machine shop. My counter point was it SAVES money by not using electricity.