Heated waterer

[dcga1954]

Hi, im new to nipple waterers I've always used bowls but latest additions were already onto these and I actually love it the water stays cleaner much lesss mess but my concern is how can I keep these from freezing in the winter? I use heated dog bowls for my older girls but won't work for these I use soda bottles not the bucket style waterers but if need to change for winter I could switch, I'm in Mass so can be very cold here in winter. Thanks for any ideas! Hate thinking of winter already but .......

 

[Fuzzymiss9]

I got a bucket nipple waterer with heat from premier 1 supplies. Did a little tweaking and have it hanging up in use now. The heating cord I have tucked up in a plastic bag and will hook it up to the power supply in the winter. I'm also in Mass so this will be essential for us in winter!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If they're horizontal nipples, heating the water reservoir will allow them to work in all but the worst weather. If they're vertical nipples, they can freeze in the high 20s F.

 

[wamtazlady]

For winter i use a semi clear 10 gallon plastic tote, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank heater that is safe to use in plastic. Kept the water thawed down to -22 F and only needed filled once a week for my 12 chickens. Was easy to see when it did need filled.

 

[debid]

If they're horizontal nipples, heating the water reservoir will allow them to work in all but the worst weather. If they're vertical nipples, they can freeze in the high 20s F.

A metal rod conducts heat the same whichever direction it points.

I'm using a bucket de-icer in a 5G hanging bucket with vertical nipples and the water has stayed liquid and accessible down to 0F (which is as cold as it gets here). The bucket de-icer has a thermostat and only heats the water to about 40F but that's enough.

 

[wamtazlady]

A metal rod conducts heat the same whichever direction it points.

The reason vertical nipples freeze at a lower temperature than horizontal nipples is that there is always a little bit of water left in the nipple. Adding that the nipple hangs below the heated water source, that little bit of water tends to freeze at temperatures where horizontal nipples will not freeze.

You might wish to look at this article. One of the members of the forum researched and compared different systems for keeping water in winter. You can read the results with this link.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/diy-chicken-waterer-3-compared

 

[debid]

The reason vertical nipples freeze at a lower temperature than horizontal nipples is that there is always a little bit of water left in the nipple. Adding that the nipple hangs below the heated water source, that little bit of water tends to freeze at temperatures where horizontal nipples will not freeze.

You might with to look at this article. One of the members of the forum researched and compared different systems for keeping water in winter. You can read the results with this link.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/diy-chicken-waterer-3-compared

That makes no sense. Both kinds are wet between the plastic housing and metal rod all of the time.

A de-icer sits on the bottom of the bucket near the metal bits, whichever direction they are pointed. The heat that it generates works the same either way.

Some of us have actually used these in winter and know from experience that they work.

 

[wamtazlady]

If you read the article it explains the difference between the 2 types of nipples. Apparently the horizontal ones have an o ring seal to keep water out of the nipple when not in use. I've used the vertical nipples. They do work well and I still will use them in the summer. In fact, I prefer them for younger chicks. However, the vertical nipples I use do leak and the birds do cause the nipples to drip water onto the ground. People who use vertical nipples in winter have learned to deal with the ice build up under the bucket in various ways. I just can't deal with anything like that anymore due to health issues so I use the easiest system I can. The young man next door comes over once a week in the winter to put out enough feed and water to last the girls until the next week. I go out once a day to throw a bit of corn and check up on them.

 

[NJ Mike]

What are you favorite sites to view or purchase these water heaters, or heating devices?

 

[wamtazlady]

I bought the plastic tote at WalMart. Got a semi clear one so I could easily see the water level. The horizontal nipples were bought on Ebay. The stock tank heater was bought at the local feed store, but you could buy one online. Just do a search for stock tank deicer or stock tank heater. Just make sure you get one that is safe to use in plastic. The heater is nice as it has a thermostat. Mine is 250 watts. It won't come on until the water is 35 degrees F. It's all worth the cost as I've used it for 2 winters now with no problems.