For the MINIMALISTS - those who think less is more in chicken keeping - Please help

[3KillerBs]

It's 2 potential problems - the water freezing and the pipe itself freezing. Someone suggested PEX. Might be worth looking into?

What I mean about a nipple blowing out is that the pressure of the ice forces the metal bit out of its housing so that it pops out completely. That's irreparable.

A heater in a bucket will prevent this from happening to nipples that are attached to the bucket. They make what are called "Stock tank deicers" for this or you can buy heated waterers.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Progress pictures

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Do you think the chickens will destroy our landscaping?

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

What I mean about a nipple blowing out is that the pressure of the ice forces the metal bit out of its housing so that it pops out completely. That's irreparable.

A heater in a bucket will prevent this from happening to nipples that are attached to the bucket. They make what are called "Stock tank deicers" for this or you can buy heated waterers.

Do you think I can put a heater in the rain barrel to solve both the water freezing and the nipples blowing out? We had planned to do this with an auto setting to turn on and off. My husband is better versed in this than me. I think someone provided some info on this so I apologize if I'm asking redundant questions.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you think I can put a heater in the rain barrel to solve both the water freezing and the nipples blowing out? We had planned to do this with an auto setting to turn on and off. My husband is better versed in this than me. I think someone provided some info on this so I apologize if I'm asking redundant questions.

The problem is that the water in the pipes will freeze even if the water in the barrel is warm.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

The problem is that the water in the pipes will freeze even if the water in the barrel is warm.

Frustration is starting to set in. Is there any way to do this PVC water feeder thing without the water in the drinking part freezing?

 

[3KillerBs]

Frustration is starting to set in. Is there any way to do this PVC water feeder thing without the water in the drinking part freezing?

There is such as thing as heat tape, which people use in their houses to keep their own plumbing from freezing in basements and crawl spaces. I do not know if it's compatible with conditions in a chicken coop.

Since my climate is so mild I decided not to spend the money on a heated waterer and just move my buckets in and out. But in a colder climate I'd have gone with the bucket and deicer.

 

[RoyalChick]

Frustration is starting to set in. Is there any way to do this PVC water feeder thing without the water in the drinking part freezing?

These are the issues that caused me to abandon the idea and go with a bucket on a heated base.
I think you could do it with heat tape wrapped around the PVC. But it takes one midwinter fail and you have to start over
I would live with a simpler system for a while and decide later.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

These are the issues that caused me to abandon the idea and go with a bucket on a heated base.
I think you could do it with heat tape wrapped around the PVC. But it takes one midwinter fail and you have to start over
I would live with a simpler system for a while and decide later.

Or plan to be able to cut off water from the rain barrel and then drain the pvc. Then have a back up waterer for those cold snaps.

If you are sold on the pvc system, that is how I would do it.

Or just do a different system like a heated bucket and you don’t have to switch it out.

 

[GetFitWithKrista]

Or plan to be able to cut off water from the rain barrel and then drain the pvc. Then have a back up waterer for those cold snaps.

If you are sold on the pvc system, that is how I would do it.

Or just do a different system like a heated bucket and you don’t have to switch it out.

I know you use the bucket. I was going to do that. But then it got complicated for our situation. So the PVC sounded better. I'm not so sure now.