Indoor plumbing?

[TytoAlba]

I'm drawing plans for my "dream" chicken coop. Ideally I would like a walk-in chicken coop that is at least 8' x 12', like a shed. My idea is to subdivide the interior so that a small section, about 4' x 8', would be a storage/workspace area and the remaining 8' x 8' would be the actual coop for the chickens. I was thinking a utility sink would be nice in the workspace area for easy cleanup, and it would also be nice to have a water spigot on the outside of the coop.

Does anyone have actual experience with whether it is worth going to this trouble and hassling with how to keep the pipes from freezing in the winter or if it's just a "pipe" dream? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[GitaBooks]

Sounds like an awesome plan!


Our barn use to have pumps installed in it, but they don't work anymore. All I know is, when the one just outside of the barn worked, it was a way lot easier to water the chickens and you could connect a hose and clean out their coop as well. You could also wash off chickens if they needed it, clean feeders and waterers. It is so awesome! Now I have to carry steaming hot water out to the chickens twice a day, each day, during the winter. Two gallons of it!

Best of luck!

 

[TytoAlba]

Come to think of it pumps probably resisted freezing because the water stays down in the ground until pumped up. I would love running water to avoid the carrying that you're talking about, I'm just not sure how to prevent freezing pipes.

 

[GitaBooks]

How cold does it get where you live? Our pumps don't work well in the winter because it gets below zero pretty regularly and water freezes nearly instantly.

 

[TytoAlba]

The average low is below freezing in the 20s but there are plenty of days when it gets colder than that. I really want proper plumbing with a sink inside and spigot outside but I'm not sure if it's worth what would be required to prevent freezing and wondered if anyone has put plumbing in their coop.

 

[marcyflock]

I think indoor plumbing would be SOOO worth it! I'm having to lug hoses around daily & it is NOT fun. Could u trench and bury the pipe so it doesn't freeze? Best of luck.

 

[TytoAlba]

Yes, I think as much pipe buried as possible is a start. And then insulating the portion in the walls between studs would be essential too (covering the insulation obviously so no birds eat it). Essentially just like in your house. But I just wondered if even that wouldn't be enough because the coop isn't going to have central heating like the house. I'm sure I would be prone to spend too much money on my flock but even I have my limits!

 

[coleco]

If you build a cabinet for the plumbing with a lightbulb inside it will generate enough warmth to keep it thawed (depending on the lightbulb depending on the power staying on)

If you wanted to get snazzy you get the on demand propane camp shower and plumb it into the faucet to have hot water in the coop too.