Freeze Proof in Winter?

[Howard E]

Thought I would throw this out for someone else to help test and perfect.

This is an improved (maybe) version of what we used to use for freeze proof livestock water. Basic idea is to bury the water tank well below either soil or inside insulation, so the source tank does not freeze. This one goes one step further to provide supplemental heat from a compost pile.

To make this work for chickens, I would expose only the end of a short section of 4" PVC pipe with horizontal nipples on it. The rest would be buried by enough material to not freeze.....maybe down to sub zero conditions. As long as the pipe is large enough, and connected to warmer water inside that is in the range of 50F or warmer, it may not freeze down to some really, cold weather. Maybe -20F or so. Supply tank could be as small (or large) as a 55 gallon drum.....or larger tote. Again buried deep within a pile of compost, and maybe surrounded by stacked hay bales, etc. Barrel located close to the soil and buried deep where it will not freeze.

Our livestock tanks were about 200 to 300 gallons, and cement. Buried in the pond dam and supplied by a float valve system from the pond. Only a small area of about 2 SF was exposed for cattle and horses to drink from. The rest was underground. It never did freeze on us down to at least -10F.

 

[cavemanrich]

Good Idea. Anytime you can locate a source of free heat is a bonus.

 

[Howard E]

Do a google / youtube search for "compost hot water" and a whole slew of information will appear. Most of it centers on using compost to heat water for domestic use......showers, etc., as a large, active compost pile does get that hot. But that may be in summer months too.

What I would try for is a very small amount of compost heat......enough to get the water in the supply reservoir up to somewhere around 50F to 70F, and buried deep so the winter cold does not get to it. Then run a small length of 4" PVC pipe with an end cap to the outside surface just far enough to expose it for the chickens to use. Drop in one or more horizontal nipples into the minimally exposed end caps for the birds to drink from and it may work.

In really cold climates........areas to -20F and below, you could erect a greenhouse, and put the compost pile inside as the supplemental heat.

Something along the lines of what this guy did, although he depends way more on technology (read electricity) than I would want to use. Too complicated, what with all the fans, etc, not to mention the expense. Also requires knowledge and expertise.....not something all of us have.

A big problem with greenhouses for chickens, in my opinion, is the wide temp swings. Those things can get really warm when the sun is out.....but what happens when the sun goes down? It gets really cold. I've spent several days out in really cold weather, and then did the "go inside to get warm" thing........going inside was uncomfortably warm and going back outside was brutal. Once you acclimate to the cold, better off to stay in it than go back and forth inside and out. But if a compost pile generated enough heat to buffer the temp swings from hot and cold, it may work.

But that is fodder for another topic. This one simply pertains to keeping the water from freezing.

 

[tigger19687]

none of that stuff will be working here in New England with out cold cold temps

 

[Howard E]

I'm not so sure. We have been below freezing for the past 10 days, with some temps to -5F and lower. I checked yesterday and the soil below 6" layer of hay I have in there as litter was not frozen.

Put a 55 gallon drum close the the soil level and bury it in a couple feet of stray, hay and compost and you might be surprised how well it does.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I'm looking to set something much smaller up to keep my fermented feed from freezing too fast. Only problem is all my horse manure and shavings compost is under 3 feet of snow and frozen crust. All new offerings are also frozen quickly.

The run isn't frozen though. Do you think if I dug a 2 foot hole and threw some fresh manure and shavings in there it'll get cooking even if its frozen to begin? I could pour in some hot water. Cap with a feed tub. Opinions?

 

[TalkALittle]

The small amount of water in the exposed nipples might freeze up, especially overnight when no chickens are activating the nipple regularly. If you could empty the 4 inch section and nipples each evening, though...

 

[lazy gardener]

Wouldn't work here. Frost typically goes 6' deep. Add to that our clay based bony soil... Digging down even 8" is a chore that requires a pick axe in many native soils here in Maine.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

The dirt in my run isn't hard frozen even though it is everywhere else. I'm sure we don't freeze to 6 feet though that's crazy!

 

[tigger19687]

@Ruralhideaway I bet you do. Depends on how far up you are.
Basically find out what your Frost line is for building.
Here it is 3+ feet down for our frost zone