Frozen Side Mounted Horizontal Nipples - How to keep them from Freezing?

[aart]

I believe it is a 100' cord.

Wonder if you can check wattage at coop end of cord?
<scratcheshead>

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I bought 2 of these and down to single digits so far no icing even in the run which is quite airy. No direct wind blasts but lots of air movement. Everything liquid was frozen solid except these.
Farm Innovators HB-60P Heated 2 gallon Poultry Drinker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BV1WLE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_DlgoAbQSQ3TQT
I paid mid 40s, don't pay 60s. Farm fleet might be in the 30 range. I love that you just lift the lid and pour water in, no flipping!

 

[JMotuzick]

Watts is a measure of power used. You would need to measure in Series as your using the heater. This won’t tell much.

The real question is what else is on the same circuit as the out let your plugged into! I’m guessing/hoping it’s a GFCI on your deck? Then measure the amps used for each device. This will tell you total load. Then figure out the braker that is feeding it. Witch is higher?

I worry about some things here, the previous owner of the house was a Handy man. He built the second kitchen downstairs and in the process he wired it him self. The fridge was on the same circuit as the lights the washing machine hot water heater (on demand) the basement bath room and the furnace room lights! I was very happy to remove outlets above the counter when we demoed that space. If the fridge would kick on at the same time as the washer the lights dimed! Not a good sign.

 

[Chickenlady802]

I am in Vermont where temps have been in the low 20s & teens during the day & single digits at night. I use the Little Giant Hen Hydrator, a hanging 5 gal nipple watered with an Aqueoun 300w submersible fish tank heater in it. My water or nipples haven't frozen yet and all 15 chickens have plenty of water. I know there are heaters made for the waters but as I had this on hand (it has NEVER been used in a fish tank, we bought it to keep our spring box from freezing) and as it is 10" long, it heats top to bottom. This is my first winter with chickens so I will keep note of how this works and adjust as needed.

 

[hillbillyreefer]

Kinda like hunting with a howitzer... It'll get the job done but maybe a bit overkill...

Not really overkill.With a large heater that is thermostatically controlled, the heater will only run as much as required not continuously, there is also no need to worry if the area experiences an unusual cold snap. Where I’m from -40F is not uncommon, there is enough crap that gives trouble at those temperatures, I don’t need them compounded with worrying about a couple dozen birds being out of water.
I don’t think I’ll put too much faith in heating advice from a Texan, lol. (That was in jest, my parents live in Texas)

 

[Latestarter]

I fear I must confess... I'm a TX transplant. I was born and raised a Yankee in New England and experienced many a winter morning/night down to -20 or lower. Spent ~15 years after I retired from the military out in Colorado with many nights just as cold. Kinda likin' the slightly warmer temps down this here way in NE TX

 

[jthornton]

How long is it?
I think power can decrease due to resistance over long runs of wire?
@jthornton ?

Actually what you see is a voltage drop as the length of a run gets past 250'. This voltage drop will make the "device" pull more amps in order to get the same watts. 12awg is fine for 250' drawing ~12 amps, 10awg is even better and will carry 20 amps at 250'. Voltage Drop Calculator... and yes I was an industrial electrician for a few years. When putting up temporary lights in a new construction building we just kept adding them till the breaker tripped then took two off that line.

JT

 

[wamtazlady]

My horizontal nipples have never frozen even when it's gotten down to -22 F.

 

[aart]

My horizontal nipples have never frozen even when it's gotten down to -22 F.

What heater are you using?

 

[wamtazlady]

I use a 250 watt stock tank deicer and the water is kept in the run. The sides of my run are covered in clear shower curtains. There are pine shavings and hay on the ground in the run. The run does seem warmer than outside when I go to check on the girls. At -22 the water in the tote was looking as if it was going to freeze up near the top. Next day it warmed up a bit and the frosty look went away.