INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ChickCrazed]

Im going to try my hand at making a nipple fed waterer this summer and putting a bird bath heather in it with some sort of pump to keep the water circulating through the PVC to keep it from freezing. If we are going to continue to have winters like this one im going to have to fiqure some out. Im hoping it will work as planned and the take to the nipple system fairly easy.

I'm also going to try to build a nipple watering system with the cups. I just can't figure out where to put it! Most of the year I want it outside, but this winter I felt bad making them go out to get to their water, and I know they were reluctant to do so. Maybe inside is best, even though it is annoying to have to go all the way in the coop to fill it.

 

[PimentoPlymouth]

Quote:
Not sure what your setup is like but I have an old window in one side of my coop. Im going to mount the cooler to where I can just open the window and pour water into the cooler. The window also faces east so hoping in the winter the sun will help keep it a little warmer.

 

[wheezy50]

I tried the small "cup type" auto waterers and my chickens didn't like them or couldn't figure out how to use them. There was a small, yellow post that the chickens were supposed to peck to refill the cup, for some reason they couldn't seem to figure out the refilling portion.

I switched to the "nipple type" waterers mounted into the bottom of a 5 gal buckets and these were a big hit. They figured out how to use them in just a few mins. I'm trying to come up with a way to use the nipple waterer with a heater of some kind for winter.

The 3 gal heated waterer from RK has worked pretty well this winter but the 5 gal buckets would be a step up.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I bought a pack if 25 nipple watered last summer and mounted them on a 5 gal bucket. The chickens quickly learned to use them as I took all the other water away. Of course hi doesn't work for winter but is good for warmer seasons. I just use milk jugs and little black livestock bowls and bust the ice out of them everyday.

 

[racinchickins]

I'm also going to try to build a nipple watering system with the cups. I just can't figure out where to put it! Most of the year I want it outside, but this winter I felt bad making them go out to get to their water, and I know they were reluctant to do so. Maybe inside is best, even though it is annoying to have to go all the way in the coop to fill it.

I am too. This youtube video shows one exactly like I want to do. I bet I can put in a float for auto filling during the summer too.

http://youtu.be/lO-Q2ag00I0

 

[raisinemright]

Well been in hiding pretty much all winter havent gotten on here but fiqured it was time to catch up some. This winter was a cold one for sure. Kind of curious as to what worked best for everyone keeping there water dethawed. I bought a heated waterer from rural king but it didnt hold up to well and for the price I was definatly disappointed. So looking for other allternatives for next winter to get in place now. Other than that hoping that my blue splash cochins decide to go broody for me and hatch some little chicks this year. Have some upcoming renovations in store for the chicken coop and run should be a good year for the feathered friends.

I bought one from rural king in Kindaville for less than $30 and it's done a fantastic job never any frozen water, the only downfall is the bottomis tricky to put on and keep on as you flip it over after filling. But it's kept water thawed all season so far.

 

[lilmizscareall]

I tried the small "cup type" auto waterers and my chickens didn't like them or couldn't figure out how to use them. There was a small, yellow post that the chickens were supposed to peck to refill the cup, for some reason they couldn't seem to figure out the refilling portion.

I switched to the "nipple type" waterers mounted into the bottom of a 5 gal buckets and these were a big hit. They figured out how to use them in just a few mins. I'm trying to come up with a way to use the nipple waterer with a heater of some kind for winter.

The 3 gal heated waterer from RK has worked pretty well this winter but the 5 gal buckets would be a step up.

I wrapped the bottom 2/3rds of mine in heat tape. I do have to run an outdoor extension cord to the coop, but it's been running all winter, without issue. I say that, but when it was -14 the heat tape can not keep a bucked defrosted. The chickens moved into my basement.
This is what I did:
I drilled a hole in the side of my coop, in the eaves area, to thread the cord through. I feel confident that it's safe, only because the contact between the two plugs is very flush and snug. I check it periodically for dust build up, which there never has been any. I clean it off anyways and go about my chores. I think it stays clean, because of the plugs close proximity to the hole I drilled. It definitely works like a little vent, either pushing or pulling air through. The heat tape is low voltage and is only supposed to turn on during colder temps.
It worked really well, I wanted a heated dog bowl for back up, but every place was sold out of them all winter.
I'll be building a second bucket for spring/summer/fall use.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm pretty careful to use "restricted opening" waterers so that wattles don't hang in the water to get frostbite and so that there is no danger of one of them getting feet into the waterer resulting in frostbite on the legs and feet. (Getting into a bucket or bowl of water by mistake is more common than you'd think.)

I finally ended up using the quart heated dog bowl with a "canning jar chick waterer" on top. (If you weren't concerned about frostbite you could just use the bowls but I just won't take the risk.) I have 2 of these and often put a 3rd source of water outside.

The bowls are filled with grit, then filled with water to conduct the heat to the waterer above. Then I sit the waterer on top. Using a 5 lb. honey jar which holds about 1/2 gallon of water. I bring them in at night and put them out in the morning. They have stayed unfrozen all day long and have prevented frostbite nicely.

I must say I've tried about 4 different systems for winter over time and this one has actually worked the best.





I've said it before, but I don't like the extra water that drops from the nipples. In the video you can see how the guy had to put troughs under them to catch that water. I am concerned about the extra water that they release dropping down the wattles and the front of the bird and causing frostbite. Not to mention stepping in the wet under them either in the bedding or the troughs causing frostbite.

I LOVE the circulating system to keep the water from freezing. If I had lots of birds and a large housing, I have had all kinds of things in my mind about how I'd use that circulating system to keep the water thawed during the winter without using the nipples. Right now my housing is small so I continue to take water out each morning.

 

[Leahs Mom]

OH... when I said I bring them in at night...

I only bring the top waterer in at night. The heated bowls are always outside and always plugged in with the grit and water in them. I just lay a cover on top of them so that they aren't open with the possibility of one of the birds stepping in it and getting frostbite. I have some old plastic bucket tops that I just lay on top.

 

[lilmizscareall]

I bought one from rural king in Kindaville for less than $30 and it's done a fantastic job never any frozen water, the only downfall is the bottomis tricky to put on and keep on as you flip it over after filling. But it's kept water thawed all season so far.

I might have to do a complete coop redesign.
My current coop is cute, but no room to do something like this!