Multi-Coop- Large 1/2 - 3/4 Acre Area- Automatic Winter Watering Systems? Design Ideas and Advice

[RememberTheWay]

So right now- I am not loving my watering system. Nothing is Automatic and here in TN even though the winter is very mild most yrs, we do get freezes occasionally. And then I am having to carry buckets of water from inside my home to an area about 3/4th of an acre and probably 1/2 an acre from my home. It's not fun at all. I have approximately 20+ coops as well so it's a daunting task. Thankfully with mild winters it's not that often but I would like to design something to eliminate that task completely.

I run a very small first generation, multigenerational private hatchery and homestead. I am looking for design tips and ideas on how to accomplish a winter ready automatic watering system. Passive heating would be awesome if someone knew how to accomplish that, but at the very least I would like to minimize the plug ins as much as possible. Purchasing twenty+ heaters and having to plug in each and every one of them just isnt feasible. I would like to have something that possibly has the minimum number of heated reservoirs and then maybe pumping water to nipples that are sent to each coop if I can keep it from freezing in the PVC tubes.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about or trying to design and have any inspiration I can learn from? Being able to not use electricity at all would be fantastic or maybe solar powered systems but not sure if that's possible.

My coops are pretty spread out too which also makes design the minimum number of systems more complicated.

Anyways - thanks in advance for the help and advice! Much appreciated

 

[aart]

I have approximately 20+ coops as well so it's a daunting task.

Not sure you're going to find anyone here with that large of an operation. Definitely daunting.
Maybe think about a better way to transport water during times of freezing...rather than trying to heat waterers?
How often does it freeze there?

here in TN

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Ted Brown]

I recently read about using geothermal heat to prevent water from freezing; sufficiently interesting that I hope to experiment with one next winter. Still requires a source of water but probably half the battle.

There are much better threads herein and also googling.

Simplistically:

• dig a minimum 4' hole in the ground
• insert an equal length section of culvert vertically that mostly fills the hole
• build an enclosure that:
  • surrounds/supports a large size rubber farm container
  • extends at least 12" into the ground & 6" above the ground
  • is filled with insulation (straw or rock wool or...) around the container and down the top sides of the culvert
  • fill container with water, earth is a constant 50 degrees, water does not freeze solidly

 

[ChaosMom]

So right now- I am not loving my watering system. Nothing is Automatic and here in TN even though the winter is very mild most yrs, we do get freezes occasionally. And then I am having to carry buckets of water from inside my home to an area about 3/4th of an acre and probably 1/2 an acre from my home. It's not fun at all. I have approximately 20+ coops as well so it's a daunting task. Thankfully with mild winters it's not that often but I would like to design something to eliminate that task completely.

I run a very small first generation, multigenerational private hatchery and homestead. I am looking for design tips and ideas on how to accomplish a winter ready automatic watering system. Passive heating would be awesome if someone knew how to accomplish that, but at the very least I would like to minimize the plug ins as much as possible. Purchasing twenty+ heaters and having to plug in each and every one of them just isnt feasible. I would like to have something that possibly has the minimum number of heated reservoirs and then maybe pumping water to nipples that are sent to each coop if I can keep it from freezing in the PVC tubes.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about or trying to design and have any inspiration I can learn from? Being able to not use electricity at all would be fantastic or maybe solar powered systems but not sure if that's possible.

My coops are pretty spread out too which also makes design the minimum number of systems more complicated.

Anyways - thanks in advance for the help and advice! Much appreciated

I read lots of articles by homesteaders who use small solar panels to heat water tanks and so forth. Solar grows cheaper by the month! Good luck.

 

[RememberTheWay]

I read lots of articles by homesteaders who use small solar panels to heat water tanks and so forth. Solar grows cheaper by the month! Good luck.

Yeah, but then it wears out and you are right back where you started with investment amounts......