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

[wamtazlady]

I've never had any problems with my horizontal nipples freezing. After reading what everyone has to say here I think I know why. Just plain dumb luck. The nipples holes were drilled up from the bottom about 3 inches. The tote I use for water is sitting on an old foot stool from a living room chair. I think the insulation provided by the padding of the stool plus having the nipples up a little bit has kept my waterer working even at -22 F.

 

[JMotuzick]

I was going to run to TSC and buy and drill another bucket. Then I said to myself just add more nipples! So I added 3 more about 2-3” higher then the set that was frozen. As I did this inside without water all the first 3 thawed. Time will tell if the girls can get fresh water all the time this way or not? I’ll let you all know In The morning.

 

[aart]

I was going to run to TSC and buy and drill another bucket. Then I said to myself just add more nipples!

Great idea!
Makes it an experiment...see which ones freeze and which ones don't!

 

[blackdog043]

Wonders how warm the other types of heaters keep the water?

I use a 250 watt stock tank de-icer in a 5 gal bucket W/HN. Currently 30 outside, 36 inside coop, water temp 48 - 50 top to bottom of bucket. 50 is about the warmest it gets.

 

[JMotuzick]

Another snowy morning and the water was NOT frozen! All 6 where working at about 1f... I’ll keep everyone posted

 

[JesseM]

Looking forward to hearing how folks solve this. We are in MA where it hasn’t been above freezing for a week. This is our first winter with chickens and our 2 gal bucket with a 250 watt heater and horizontal nipples freezes a couple times a day. The water temps never get below 60 (and often up to 100) so I’m surprised that doesn’t transfer enough heat to defrost the nipples.

We are going to try a little vegetable oil on them to see if that helps but already are using most of the suggestions posted here without luck. We’ll also try to better insulate the bucket and hope the warm air escaping the insulation helps prevent freezing. Any suggestions for insulation chicken-safe material?

 

[JMotuzick]

Just checked girls about the time you where typing. The 3 lower nipples where froze up. Upper ones all worked great! Move them up 2 or 3 inches and skip the insulation for now!

FYI 4f here today

 

[jreardon1918]

Is the heater at the bottom of the bucket? Also in Mass and no ice this morning.

 

[JMotuzick]

Heater is on a brick so 2-3 inches up. Didn’t open up the lid not sure about a layer of ice. There was some a few days ago when I moved the nipples

 

[aart]

Looking forward to hearing how folks solve this. We are in MA where it hasn’t been above freezing for a week. This is our first winter with chickens and our 2 gal bucket with a 250 watt heater and horizontal nipples freezes a couple times a day. The water temps never get below 60 (and often up to 100) so I’m surprised that doesn’t transfer enough heat to defrost the nipples.

We are going to try a little vegetable oil on them to see if that helps but already are using most of the suggestions posted here without luck. We’ll also try to better insulate the bucket and hope the warm air escaping the insulation helps prevent freezing. Any suggestions for insulation chicken-safe material?

Really...you have a thermometer in the bucket?
What are your ambient temps?
Not sure oil will work-never heard that one before, but it might, look forward to hearing results.
Oh and Welcome to BYC!