Plastic 5 gal Bottle with Horizontal Nipples on Cookie Tin Heater

[RonP]

Are those two brass nipples connected somehow?

There is a clear hose connecting the barbs.

 

[aart]

Ahh I thought there was probably clear hose I couldn't quite see.

What plastic are the bottles made of...is there a recycling symbol on them that might give a clue?
Did you use a 3/8 hole?

I wish I could get my hands on a couple of those.

 

[RonP]

I used old office water cooler water bottles. The date code on the bottom was from 1996...

The bottle does not have any recycling codes.

At one time I had a dozen or so, slowly repurposing them.

They still use this type of bottle today, not sure about the materials used now, but these were very hard plastic, almost brittle. Perhaps because they were almost 20 years old...

I used a 3/8 inch drill, and plenty of plumbers goop as you can see in the posted picture. I do not like to do things twice, so I didn't wait to see if it leaked without it ...

With so little waste, 5 gallons will last a minimum of 1 week for my flock of 14.

Now I wait for the cold again to see how it does below freezing temps ...

 

[goodb]

the only issue I see is the nipples freezing due to their exposure to the cold air. I love the thoughts on the convection and agree but I think the nipples will freeze.
Do you know anyone who works at a restaurant? You could test it in the walk-in freezer.???

 

[EagleEyes]

I have two of those blue 3 gal water bottles, and put 4 nipples in each one. They didn't want anything to do with it, so I took 3 different chickens and put their beak up against the plunger so water came out. I watched them later, and they still didn't get it. I'll check again in the morning.

 

[LilyBird]

So if the nipples tend to freeze up in the winter, then what other solution is there for a watering system? I really don't want to have to carry buckets of water outside every day....call me lazy, but I have a busy household so I need something that will be easy to maintain, especially in the winter.

 

[aart]

So if the nipples tend to freeze up in the winter, then what other solution is there for a watering system? I really don't want to have to carry buckets of water outside every day....call me lazy, but I have a busy household so I need something that will be easy to maintain, especially in the winter.

I used this last winter and it held up great, and it was a cold winter, once I got a good heater.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples
Still had to carry out a gallon jug to top it off every day, but that was pretty easy.

 

[aart]

I have two of those blue 3 gal water bottles, and put 4 nipples in each one. They didn't want anything to do with it, so I took 3 different chickens and put their beak up against the plunger so water came out. I watched them later, and they still didn't get it. I'll check again in the morning.

It can take time and perseverance.

 

[LilyBird]

I used this last winter and it held up great, and it was a cold winter, once I got a good heater.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples
Still had to carry out a gallon jug to top it off every day, but that was pretty easy.

Looks good! Now to scale it up in size so I don't have to carry buckets every day lol

 

[aart]

Quote: How many birds do you have?
I'd rather carry a little bit each day then a lot every few days.