Nipple waterers in sub-freezing weather

[Gray Ghost]

I am going to try the nipple waterers installed through the bottom of a 5-gal plastic bucket. When it gets below freezing I will be able to put an electric heating element in the bucket to keep the water in the bucket from freezing. Does anyone have any experience - will the nipple waterers still work in such a situation or will they freeze? It gets very cold where I am, sometimes under zero farenheit.

Thanks in advance.

GG

 

[Intheswamp]

I haven't tried it but it seems that if the bucket of water is being heated that the nipple drinkers will be in such close proximity to the bucket that the heat transfer should keep them from freezing. Of course we seldom have the temperatures that you're talking about so I might be off base with my idea.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[write2caroline]

In the couple of freezing days my avian water miser froze but I did not plan to prevent it from happening and I decided to bring the waterer in at night when I put up the chickens and bring it out when I let them down in the am. When they did not freeze during the day even though it was freezing. Just at night with no activity. My girls love this waterer.
Caroline

 

[Organics North]

I have a 3" PVC pipe in an L shape with two farmTec nipple waters in it. I have a cheap low watt aquarium heater in the pvc pipe. The Aquarium heater is on a thermoCube, (On 35F off 45F air temp in the room.) It seems to keep them unfrozen. However my coop is well insulated and does not get much below freezing even when it is -20. So I do not know if this set up would work if it was not inside the coop.
ON

 

[briteday]

My 5-gallon bucket with nipple waterers has an aquarium heater and is outside. Wehave had many sub-zero nights and the nipples always function in the morning. I suspect, as mentioned, that the nipples are close enough to the mass of heated water that they do not freeze. An aquarium heater is set to heat water up to about 75 degrees, I think. Mine is not on a thermo cube though, just plugged into an outlet.

 

[aussieheelr]

Can I see some pictures of these setups? I haven't seen any of these nipple waterers!

 

[SaltLakeSpice]

***bump***

 

[briteday]

I'll try to get out tomorrow or over the weekend and take pics.

basics:

5 gallon bucket
toilet float valve
12" hose normally used from toilet float valve to water valve on wall, one end needs to fit the float connection, other end fits your supply hose such as garden hose
nipple waterers...3-5 fit on the bottom of 5 gallon bucket easily
heating device and extension cord for winter freezing temps
ice for hot summer temps

 

[Egg_newton]

what kind of heater do you use?

 

[briteday]

The cheapest one they had at Walmart, I think about $13?...aquarium heater