Dumb Question about water and feed locations

[Bonkerelli]

They are actually small red cups instead of nipples sorry I misspoke

Ahh no worries.

 

[Brooks_]

I can't advise on cold weather issues. I can say that one coop with deep bedding has food inside and water outside. The other coop with deep litter has food and water inside. The deep litter can easily handle some splashes and spills. The food is in each because once closed up the food is protected from rodents.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They are actually small red cups instead of nipples sorry I misspoke

Have you tried a waterer with cups in your climate? They're more prone to freezing than horizontal nipples since the cups themselves aren't heated (neither are horizontal nipples, however more of the mechanism sits inside the waterer itself which helps keep it from freezing in place). Just mentioning it, if you hadn't tried them before.

And I have water outside, food inside and outside. Water outside so never have to worry about leaks or drips getting the coop floor wet, and then fermented feed outside in the morning, dry feed inside all day (to keep it out of rain, and to keep pests to a minimum).

 

[aart]

But im trying to keep water in the coop itself isolated for the winter months to reduce freezing.

I keep feed and water in the coop all year long, easier for me and fine for them.
This is what I use:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/
I remove heater for summer.
Horizontal nipples have minimal dripping when birds drink and no evaporation from jug.

i plan to use a solar panel with a 12v battery for charging then using a RV adhesive grey water tank heater on a 55 gallon drum or maybe smaller which will have a small stretch of pvc pipe run along the wall with auto filling nipples.

Not sure this would stay thawed at the cups.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Alarry31]

Sorry I’m in Virginia and yea we don’t have many freezing days but I just want to simplify the chicken chores so that we can enjoy the chickens. And focus on other homestead ideas