I'm trying a 2 gal bucket with nipples that I made last summer, the nipples are at different heights as I wasn't sure where to put them that the birds would like. I'm using an aquarium heater suction cupped to the bottom of the pail and a submersible pump, i'll let you know how it goes during our upcoming cold snap, it is not suppose to get above zero on Sunday and Wednesday.
I'm trying a 2 gal bucket with nipples that I made last summer, the nipples are at different heights as I wasn't sure where to put them that the birds would like. I'm using an aquarium heater suction cupped to the bottom of the pail and a submersible pump, i'll let you know how it goes during our upcoming cold snap, it is not suppose to get above zero on Sunday and Wednesday.
I'll be watching for updates to let us know. I'm still fighting it here when it gets below zero. But Ken thawed the nipples with the heat gun yesterday afternoon and they stayed open all day long - we got up to 20 degrees above so at least I didn't' have to haul water more than just the one time in the morning. I don't care if they freeze overnight - they aren't drinking then anyway. It's no biggie to go out in the morning, thaw them, and have them remain open during the hours the girls need the water. The problem is when it's so cold that they freeze up within hours during the day. I have got to come up with a solution and soon. Our coldest days are ahead of us and I refuse to be defeated by an inanimate object!
I think you guys are onto something with raising the nipples higher. I took my point and shoot thermometer out there that I got for Christmas, with the aquarium heater suction cupped to the bottom and a circulating pump in there. Well I was surprised!
The bottom of the bucket registered approx 44 degrees, the middle to top of the bucket measured approx 78 degrees. The bottom nipple measured approx 38 degrees and the nipple higher up measured approx 58 degrees. I would definitely raise the nipples just from these readings, also, throw in a pump to keep the water circulating. I'll let you know how tomorrow goes. I brought it in tonight and will put it out tomorrow, suppose to be below zero to 3 above tomorrow.
Edited to say that when I said the bottom of the bucket, I meant on the side near the bottom, next to the lowest nipple.
I am so glad that you took those readings and shared the results! I wondered about the nipples on our waterer being too low, and now I'm convinced of it. Thing is, even with the water being so much warmer at the top of the bucket, that's IN the bucket and at the thawed nipples, and not residual drops in the cups. Even with warmer water the nipples could still freeze when the water within them cools. I would hope, though, that with them being up higher and against the far warmer body of the upper part of the bucket that heat transfer might slow the process down, or even prevent it while the chickens are actively using them. I'm intrigued!
This should give you some idea of what I'm up against here:
Granted, we weren't that cold up here in the Basin, but the southern part of the state doesn't hold exclusive rights to those figures during the winter......much as I might wish it!
I think you guys are onto something with raising the nipples higher. I took my point and shoot thermometer out there that I got for Christmas, with the aquarium heater suction cupped to the bottom and a circulating pump in there. Well I was surprised!
The bottom of the bucket registered approx 44 degrees, the middle to top of the bucket measured approx 78 degrees. The bottom nipple measured approx 38 degrees and the nipple higher up measured approx 58 degrees. I would definitely raise the nipples just from these readings, also, throw in a pump to keep the water circulating. I'll let you know how tomorrow goes. I brought it in tonight and will put it out tomorrow, suppose to be below zero to 3 above tomorrow.
This is just freaking brilliant. It makes so much sense! One would never really know what you discovered without a point and shoot thermometer like that. Gotta finally get myself one of those.
What's most interesting is the the circulating pump doesn't seem to even out the temperature in the bucket/nipples that much. Would you be willing to remove your pump for a day and take the readings again? I'd be curious to learn what the temp difference between the higher and lower nipples would be without the pump and just the heater.
Also, what setting do your have your aquarium heater set to? And what was the ambient temperature when you took those readings?
I bet your findings could be the solution, or certainly part of it, for folks like Blooie who live in such extreme cold, to keep those HN's thawed.
This is just freaking brilliant. It makes so much sense! One would never really know what you discovered without a point and shoot thermometer like that. Gotta finally get myself one of those.
What's most interesting is the the circulating pump doesn't seem to even out the temperature in the bucket/nipples that much. Would you be willing to remove your pump for a day and take the readings again? I'd be curious to learn what the temp difference between the higher and lower nipples would be without the pump and just the heater.
Also, what setting do your have your aquarium heater set to? And what was the ambient temperature when you took those readings?
I bet your findings could be the solution, or certainly part of it, for folks like Blooie who live in such extreme cold, to keep those HN's thawed.
I'll take the pump out, but on a warmer day like today was Tomorrow it is going to be very cold
So the aquarium heater I have in there right now is a fixed temperature heater at 78 degrees.
The temperature in the run was approx. 34-38 degrees at the time I took the readings.(depending on what I was shooting at) The outdoor temp was 30. My run is enclosed on the north, west, and east sides by greenhouse panels and open to the south.
When the sun was out the other day, the outside of the hen house measured 73 degrees (southside), the temp was only 20 or so, that was neat!
Today the lower part of the bucket inline with the lowest nipple measured 25 degrees, and the top measured 61. It gradually increased from bottom to top. the Nipple on the bottom measured 25 degrees, but was not frozen. The higher nipple measured in the 40's. I think the thermostat is a little off on this thing though, it said it was 12 degrees ambient, but I know it was not that high, lower single digits maybe. But, principle is the same, the warmer water goes to the top. On a side note, my heated dog dish got ice covered twice during the day.
Hi I live in Iowa and it had been very cold lately. I have some Lauer hems in cashes and some breeding stock. I have two 8 ft pvc water lines with nipples.anyone have any suggestions on keeping them thawed
Hi I live in Iowa and it had been very cold lately. I have some Lauer hems in cashes and some breeding stock. I have two 8 ft pvc water lines with nipples.anyone have any suggestions on keeping them thawed
If they are horizontal nipples, you could rig a circulating heated water system thru the pipes.
If they are vertical nipples, I wouldn't bother....get a different setup for winters.
Tomorrow it is going to be very cold 
