Automatic watering systems?

[PianoMan]

I am increasing my flock to 30 birds and I foresee the need for an automating watering system. Can someone point me to a thread about these or let me know what you are doing? I do have water going to the coop so I could do a low pressure system like I've seen in the McMurray catalog but It would be REALLY helpful if I could do something that would work throughout the winter i.e. circulating the water so it doesn't freeze or heating it. Thankyou!

 

[AlexKilpatrick]

I just installed an automatic waterer from http://www.beaktime.com/ It was pretty easy to install, but I don't know if it is something that would be good for large numbers of chickens. (I have about 15)

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Quote:
If all 30 of your birds are about the same size and in one group two nipple drinkers in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket with an aquarium heater would do the trick in the winter and work well without the heater in the warmer months.

Circulation will work but it is a PITA because of the pressure. Without a lot of safeguards there will be water wasteage when the birds drink, at best.

 

[BoltonChicken]

two nipple drinkers in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket with an aquarium heater would do the trick in the winter and work well without the heater in the warmer months.

+1 for this one!​

 

[ID Pam]

Quote:
If all 30 of your birds are about the same size and in one group two nipple drinkers in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket with an aquarium heater would do the trick in the winter and work well without the heater in the warmer months.

Circulation will work but it is a PITA because of the pressure. Without a lot of safeguards there will be water wasteage when the birds drink, at best.

That would be worth a try. I have not had fish in years, but the last aquariam heater I had required it be submerged in water using a clip on the edge of an aquarium. I would worry about the water level going down and the heater exploding. Do you know if they make anything that floats to eliminate that issue? At this point I have a plug in waterer ready to go, but it is smaller than I like. I don't mind dealing with water once a day in the winter cold, but I am getting pretty old to battle it twice.

Pam in ID

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

That would be worth a try. I have not had fish in years, but the last aquariam heater I had required it be submerged in water using a clip on the edge of an aquarium. I would worry about the water level going down and the heater exploding. Do you know if they make anything that floats to eliminate that issue? At this point I have a plug in waterer ready to go, but it is smaller than I like. I don't mind dealing with water once a day in the winter cold, but I am getting pretty old to battle it twice.

Pam in ID

I have an aquarium heater that was on for months in dry gravel before I found it that way when I wanted to use it again. Still works great. Suprised me. The design of some years ago would not have survived such abuse. Also it was low watage.

I would not pour cold water on a dry, hot glass heater tube in any case. Technology has not come that far.

You can rig threaded nipple drinkers in the bottom of a pail so that they would not use the last two or three inches of water leaving the heater submerged. I should make one of these up and get a picture for you. I'll see what time I have.

ETA
The heater I had layed on the bottom of the aquarium.​

 

[ID Pam]

Quote:
I have an aquarium heater that was on for months in dry gravel before I found it that way when I wanted to use it again. Still works great. Suprised me. The design of some years ago would not have survived such abuse. Also it was low watage.

I would not pour cold water on a dry, hot glass heater tube in any case. Technology has not come that far.

You can rig threaded nipple drinkers in the bottom of a pail so that they would not use the last two or three inches of water leaving the heater submerged. I should make one of these up and get a picture for you. I'll see what time I have.

ETA
The heater I had layed on the bottom of the aquarium.

I would appreciate pictures as well as the brand name of a heater that would lay on the bottom. I can always try to buy one on line if I knew the brand name. Thanks in advance for or time.

Pam in ID

 

[BellevueOmlet]

You can always check a local feed store if you have one. Mine carries heaters specifically to be added to water buckets in the chicken section. I'll check the brand for you when I get a chance.

 

[Djinmonet]

Avianaquamiser.com has a DIY kit that can be adapted many ways, one of those is the pvc pipe waterer, low pressure, for warmer weather. There are a number of posts on there about attaching the kits to the bottom of heated buckets for winter. From what I understand these do not leak, unless you have some crazy bird pecking at a nipple without wanting to drink, but still less water dripping than you would have with a real leak. You could of course, just buy nipples and build your own, but their kit comes with all sorts of instructions. I think the website actually had more, and was just as helpful to me as the instructions.