DIY Instructions for Very EASY heated waterer for under $20 bucks

[Cluckies]

Hi!

I've built my own bucket heater almost the same as this. The only exception is that I got the heater and pump on eBay from china for less than half the price. I also bought a "110V Digital Temperature Controller Thermostat" for $6 and set it for heating at 32 degrees F.

http://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=110v+temperature

I've also done the same setup with the pump hooked into my supply line for individual cage water nipples and cups. The supply line is a circle and returns the water to bucket, so it's always cycling. I wrapped the line with the black foam pipe insulation and kicked the temp upto about 36 degrees.

Thank OP!

You'll have to let us know how it works, i've not heard of the cups working through the winter, in Minnesota anyways. Not sure how cold it gets where you are...Did you use horizontal nipples?

 

[Crunchynurse]

I am having trouble with the bucket that the horizontal poultry nipples are screwed into cracking above one or more of the nipples. It bulges out where the cracks are the the nipple ends up looking like it was bent outward. It's not from lifting the bucket and striking them against a surface, because we simply use another bucket to fill it. Are we doing something wrong with installing the nipples? This is our second bucket to crack in this way. There hasn't been much freezing temps to speak of yet so I don't think it's caused by water freezing. We are not yet at the point when we need to heat the bucket right now.

Jen

 

[aart]

I am having trouble with the bucket that the horizontal poultry nipples are screwed into cracking above one or more of the nipples. It bulges out where the cracks are the the nipple ends up looking like it was bent outward. It's not from lifting the bucket and striking them against a surface, because we simply use another bucket to fill it. Are we doing something wrong with installing the nipples? This is our second bucket to crack in this way. There hasn't been much freezing temps to speak of yet so I don't think it's caused by water freezing. We are not yet at the point when we need to heat the bucket right now.

Jen

Post pics of cracks?
Probably screwed the nipple in too far, creating pressure against hole, pretty common problem.
Screw nipple in juuussst far enough to make a tight seal....it's feel thing.

 

[Crunchynurse]

 

[aart]

The bulge indicates that it's screwed in too far....again, screw nipple in juuussst far enough to make a water tight seal.


There's alot of discussion on hole size in this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-vs-horizontal-spring-loaded-watering-nipples

I explain my procedure in this post there:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/330#post_14593735

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
This is a great thread. About the bucket??/ Has anyone come up with something better than the plastic container in the 1st post? I don't buy that product in those quantities. Also did anyone find they needed the container to be food safe? Does it have to be a 5 gallon container? I am thinking of the 3 gallon containers with lids that local grocery chains use for icing in their bakeries. But then again, I know that container is food safe, but do we need to consider how the plastic will hand the heat? Will heat taint the water?
Thanks,
Karen

 

[Cluckies]

Hi,
This is a great thread. About the bucket??/ Has anyone come up with something better than the plastic container in the 1st post? I don't buy that product in those quantities. Also did anyone find they needed the container to be food safe? Does it have to be a 5 gallon container? I am thinking of the 3 gallon containers with lids that local grocery chains use for icing in their bakeries. But then again, I know that container is food safe, but do we need to consider how the plastic will hand the heat? Will heat taint the water?
Thanks,
Karen

I use a 2 gallon bucket my DH picked up from the home depot. I don't know if it is food safe or not. Been using it over a year though, doesn't seem to have any issue. Probably any container you want to use will work. For the chicks in the brooder, I used a small one gallon jug with one nipple, it worked fine as well.
The water doesn't get hot enough to worry about the plastic melting. I guess if you had a super hot heater and the water burned off? but mine doesn't get that hot, I use a bird bath de-icer. "will heat taint the water?" Not sure what you mean. The water doesn't get hot, cold but not frozen usually. warm if you use an aquarium heater.

 

[kazi]

Hi

I live in northern ontario and we get very very cold here, and i want to know if those walmart aquarium heater burnt out in your bucket? i called the manufacturer and they said they would burn out as they are not designed for coops. my cook is 4x5x5 ft.

Thanks

 

[wamtazlady]

I am using a similar system. Major difference is that I use a tote with lid instead of a bucket. Tote holds 10 or 15 gallons which means filling less often. Got to love those horizontal nipples. I do not worry about changing water as I think it's too cold to grow algae. I didn't Have time before heading south to add insulation. So far it's gotten down to 5 degrees at night with no freezing. Bought 250 watt stock tank deicer from feed store. It turns on at 35 and off at 45. With only 15 chickens the house sitter is happy with only filling every week or two.

 

[kazi]

Doe stour devices consume lot of hydro?