Keeping water from freezing in the winter

[rlhagan56]

I haven't read all the suggestions but would like to throw in my 2 cents. For years now we use 2 gallon food safe buckets with horizontal nipples on top of cookie tins with a light kit inside. That is on a plastic crate for the adults, and shorter blocks for younger ones. I useually use 40 watt bulbs but in December and January when we get those arctic blasts we put in 60 watt bulbs and always have an extra in each tin. This year I put a 5 gallon bucket with horizontal nipples in the big covered run with all the pullets. We put insulation tape with black duct tape over it around the bucket and an insulated top. Since it is outside when it got really cold the 60 watt kept most of the water thawed, and since a little bit of ice was on top I put in a 75 watt bulb.Very eaasy, cheap, and works great.

 

[teringeorge]

If you have a large flock, I put a heater in a deep rubber feeding pan. It can be purchased at Tractor supply store. Be sure you get the kind that can be used in NON-METAL containers. (read the box). Of course you need a source of electricity. I run an outdoor heavy duty extension cord from the barn to the chicken pen. Hope this helps.

 

[teringeorge]

I use a 44 quart tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is okay to use in plastic. Keeps my 12 chickens in water for over a week. Water stays clean and thawed. Last winter it got down to -22. I went out to check on the water. Water was still thawed. I have a heated dog dish for backup just in case my system ever breaks down. My system is going on its 4th year now and has never frozen.

Do the nipples ever freeze up?

 

[teringeorge]

Just need to invest in a good heated waterer with horizontal nipples and a no stand lid.

A what?

 

[teringeorge]

I too have an acre(just over) of property.
My house is on the front 2/3 and my coop is in the back corner.
I had an old dog run cable that was already stretched 80% of the way.
I ran extension cords to the coop and secured the cords to the run cable.
Where the cords connect together I used connection covers that I bought from my hardware store that are weather tight and built for the task.
The bonus is my garden is connected to my coop and run and this also allows me to plug in my electric fencer to keep the moose out of my garden in the summer time.
I have an outdoor rated timer also connected that powers my light in my coop
This is just what works for me in my situation.

When you run multiple extension cords plugged together, you run the risk of overheating the cords and fire. Please be careful!

 

[wamtazlady]

Do the nipples ever freeze up?

So far the nipples have not frozen that I know of. However, another BYC member said that hers would freeze. He husband would thaw the nipples out in the morning.

 

[jreardon1918]

So far the nipples have not frozen that I know of. However, another BYC member said that hers would freeze. He husband would thaw the nipples out in the morning.

Here in southeast mass. It was pretty cold last week. Just below 0F. The horizontal nipples with our stock tank heater did freeze. Not bad. Each morning I would add a gallon of hot water. Unfreeze the nipples and be set for the day.

 

[vantain]

I use this:
http://www.farminnovators.com/HB-60P Sell Sheet.pdf

It has horizontal nipples. I’m in Minnesota, and with an ambient temperature at night, earlier this week, of -35F, the water was not frozen, and the nipples were working fine. I was surprised, as I did not expect it to work that well in those temperatures.

So, assuming you heat the water somehow, they should do fine in your location.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

I had a better idea originally, but had to run out of town (for a month) on short notice so had to put something together fast. I just did this in the mean time. It's mostly been working.

Occasionally I get something like this, but if water is dripping out to make a stalagmite, then it isn't frozen.

Once all the nipples froze solid. When it's that cold, I'm generally not away from the house and I can just put some water outside for them.

 

[aart]

Occasionally I get something like this, but if water it dripping out to make a stalagmite, then it isn't frozen.

Ha!! That's kinda cool, took me a bit to spot it.
Those nipples are not really meant to be at angle, am surprised there aren't more of them leaking.