heater for inside tube style waterer?

[suziboyer]

Hi,
I have installed a small tube style waterer (the kind made of wide pvc) for a flock of 5, and would like to know what kind of heater would work will with this waterer?
I was sure I saw that someone mentioned that there is something that works well inside these. Thanks!

suziboyer

 

[blackdog043]

I don't remember seeing anything for heating a tube pvc waterer. Do you have a picture?

 

[suziboyer]

Not my video, but I bought the same waterer:

 

[blackdog043]

The cup will freeze, even if the water is warm inside. Have you thought about using horizontal nipples? You can heat the waterer and the nipples don't freeze.

If you add your general location to your profile, it will always show in your avatar box. This helps us answer questions that are climate related better.

 

[suziboyer]

Hmmmm....there must be some way to keep the cup from freezing....will continue to search for ideas

 

[WVduckchick]

I have horizontal pvc pipe with vertical nipples. I inserted a heat cable (the submersible kind) inside my pipe. It keeps them from freezing down to about 28 degrees, but when we have colder temps, the nipples still freeze up, even though the water doesn't. I think the more chickens using the cups, the more they will keep it un-frozen.

Maybe you can find something useful here -- https://oemheaters.com/topic/heating-tape

 

[Zinjifrah]

Aquarium heater.

 

[suziboyer]

Seems like an aquarium heater might help to some extent....but not at really low temps. However, I will be buying one to try out

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hmmmm....there must be some way to keep the cup from freezing....will continue to search for ideas

It depends on your climate. But in general, cups will freeze and break. The water, no matter how warm it is, must either remain in the heated area (as with a horizontal nipple) or be flowing. The water doesn't flow into the cup from the heated reservoir unless chickens are drinking from it. Below 32, the water in the cup will freeze. Below about 29 or 30, the valve that releases the water will freeze. Both will happen rapidly below 20F and nothing you can do at 0F unless water is flowing.
At moderate temperatures, it may stay thawed during the day but at night when chickens are sleeping, it will all freeze.
The secret is a heated, circulating water system - even with horizontal nipples. However, it still wouldn't work for cups.

 

[wamtazlady]

One of the major drawbacks of cups is that they freeze easily. You could still add horizontal nipples to the system you have and it could work well with that aquarium heater. Do not let the water level get lower than the heater. I use horizontal nipples in winter with a 10 gallon tote and a stock tank deicer. Kept my water thawed down to -22 F. Only needs filled once a week.