/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

nipple water system help

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by WestNashChick, Nov 14, 2014.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Nov 14, 2014 #1
    WestNashChick

    WestNashChick Out Of The Brooder

    52
    4
    48
    Aug 16, 2014
    Nashville
    I used a 10 gallon bucket and installed horizontal nipples for my flock of four chickens. It's worked perfectly, but this morning, the top of the water and nipples were frozen. I knew this would happen but I didn't think this fast! I've seen several suggestions, including bird bath heater or some type of trough heater. Has anyone found something that works well? Thanks!
     
  3. Nov 14, 2014 #2
    Hokum Coco

    Hokum Coco Overrun With Chickens

    3,311
    601
    306
    Dec 6, 2012
    New Brunswick,Canada
    Watering
    For along time I used heater tape around a bucket with chicken watering nipples. It worked excellent. However me being me I neglected to change the water as often as I should. This is what it looks like and it thermostatically controlled to come on at just above the freezing temperature. You would have to wrap it to suit your particular application if it is viable for your set up. It is available at Home Depot in Canada.

    [​IMG]


    Last year I switched to white rubber contains the wife found somewhere. The freeze solid every night but the ice just pops out of them in the morning and I replenish them with fresh warm water. They have black ones at the feed store that are similar but large than mine.

    The chickens congregate around them like people having their morning coffee. The only draw back is my yard is pepper with small ice bergs the size of the buckets.

    April looks after that however..
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by