Chicken Nipple Waterers - placement of nipples?

[kateseidel]

All of the examples I have seen are putting the nipples on the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket. I prefer to set my waterer on an elevated platform, and am planning for use of a heated base next winter. So I'd like to put my nipples about 2 inches from the base, attached through the sides. I believe the pressure from the water will keep the valve closed, but is there any reason I *shouldn't* put them in the sides?

 

[jmagill]

I think you are better off hanging the waterer. I have mine hanging and an aquarium heater inside the bucket. I have had it in temps down to 12 degrees so far
and the water has not even iced over.

I think you may have some drinking problems if the nipples are on the side.

 

[gryeyes]

The nipples need to be facing down; the position of the "pecker" part is what makes the inside valve let out water.

I have three nipple waterers: the five gallon bucket, a 1 gallon milk jug, and a Bucket-and-PVC-pipe rig. That uses a short length of PVC pipe plumbed through the side of the bucket nearest the bottom of it, a couple of 90 degree turn fittings, and then a five foot length of 3/4 inch PVC pipe running horizontally through the side of my A-frame coop 'downstairs' section. There are four nipples inserted into the PVC pipe, and I use some wire to hold the pipe up not quite level; the end is slighly lower than the fittings coming out of the bucket. That helps gravity keep the water flowing into the pipe to all four nipples.

Not a great picture, but this is what I'm describing: