Chicken Nipples

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Just an fyi for those using a heater and wanting more heat. The ground sucks out a lot of heat. I have a heated "indoor" (shed) above-ground pool. The temp at the bottom is noticeably cooler because it sits on bare ground. I didn't think to put some insulation between, which would eliminate that heat loss. Wood would probably be best for a waterer because chickens love to attack foam.

 

[aart]

I like what @aart has with an aquarium heater that the temperature can be adjusted. Now if I can find that post...JT

Well, you could adjust it. The better Aq heaters have a range of about 68-78, some you cannot adjust at all.
I keep mine as low as possible(68F), plenty for the purpose.
..and it's plugged into a (32-45)thermocube, which shuts it off when weather warms above 45F.

 

[jthornton]

Well, you could adjust it. The better Aq heaters have a range of about 68-78, some you cannot adjust at all.
I keep mine as low as possible(68F), plenty for the purpose.
..and it's plugged into a (32-45)thermocube, which shuts it off when weather warms above 45F.

Ah, I missed the thermocube part. I looked up the website for them and it looks like the preset heater you could fit up to 200 watt model in a bucket. The length range is 7" - 10.5" for the 50-200 watt preset heaters. So your measuring the ambient temperature vs the water temperature?

JT

 

[aart]

So your measuring the ambient temperature vs the water temperature?

Thermocube reacts to ambient temp.

 

[jreardon1918]

Last night we were Zero F. We don't get that many days/nights like this recent spell. The hens seem to be doing just fine. The bucket did not ice up. The horizontal nipples were working in the morning. The specs for the deicer (TSC) say that it is rated for plastic. It maintains temp 35-45F. It is heavy enough to sit on the bottom. I do wonder how it will cost to run. The run is now wrapped in plastic, so the bucket is also shielded from the wind.

 

[aart]

I do wonder how it will cost to run.

Kil-A-Wat for 3 months will tell the tale.
I took daily readings and came up with $2-3 a month on my AQ heater.

 

[jreardon1918]

Kil-A-Wat for 3 months will tell the tale.
I took daily readings and came up with $2-3 a month on my AQ heater.

Any rise in electricity use I will blame on the Christmas lights.

 

[koopmaster]

I have this one from Orschlens. Make sure it's rated for a plastic bucket.

JT

Thank you!!

 

[koopmaster]

Here is my waterer using a heat tape, as suggested

 

[koopmaster]

koopmaster, a heat tape wrapped around your bucket should do the trick. Make the wraps closer together for more heat, and if your NY winters are too cold for that you can always put insulation over the tape and bucket. Just be careful because you can get things very hot.

Thanx for the tip