poll what type of waterer is best.

[ChickMagnet64]

I would love to use a nipple watering system but it gets much to cold in NW CT in the winter. I use a 5 gal metal waterer on a heated platform for the winter and in the summer I add a few of the 2 gal plastics out in the run. I'm always looking for a good alternative, particularly something with more volume. I have 50 hens and 2 roosters and on hot days they will go through 10 gallons of water easy. Makes it hard to get away because they always need a refill in the afternoon.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I would love to use a nipple watering system but it gets much to cold in NW CT in the winter. I use a 5 gal metal waterer on a heated platform for the winter and in the summer I add a few of the 2 gal plastics out in the run. I'm always looking for a good alternative, particularly something with more volume. I have 50 hens and 2 roosters and on hot days they will go through 10 gallons of water easy. Makes it hard to get away because they always need a refill in the afternoon.

If you have a garden hose, this type of fount works well outside. I found it was a little leaky, so didn't set it up in my coop.

http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/Auto-Poultry-Waterer-with-Cover/Automatic-Founts

Here is a video showing the type of waterer I use, with a couple different options for setting it up. I used permanent plumbing, which I shut off and drain when it's freezing (which is only a few days per year here).

They also sell all kinds of float valves at most feed stores, if DIY is your thing.

I consider all watering solutions to be "seasonal." We have a different solution for days that are below freezing.

 

[Blooie]

I would love to use a nipple watering system but it gets much to cold in NW CT in the winter. I use a 5 gal metal waterer on a heated platform for the winter and in the summer I add a few of the 2 gal plastics out in the run. I'm always looking for a good alternative, particularly something with more volume. I have 50 hens and 2 roosters and on hot days they will go through 10 gallons of water easy. Makes it hard to get away because they always need a refill in the afternoon.

Oh, I dunno....I'm in Northern Wyoming just an hour and half from Yellowstone Park, and we get pretty doggone cold here too! We've had the nipples themselves freeze open, which resulted in some pretty impressive icicles going down the bricks that the bucket sat on, but we quickly figured out that a few minutes with the heat gun aimed at them and we were back in business. The water inside the bucket never froze with the stock tank heater inside, just the individual nipples, and that only happened when we'd get in that 20 below temperature range and stay there for a few days. I would have been going out there anyway, so it was easy to just grab the heat gun on the way out.

Edited to add a big ol' hug for Leslie!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Oh, I dunno....I'm in Northern Wyoming just an hour and half from Yellowstone Park, and we get pretty doggone cold here too! We've had the nipples themselves freeze open, which resulted in some pretty impressive icicles going down the bricks that the bucket sat on, but we quickly figured out that a few minutes with the heat gun aimed at them and we were back in business. The water inside the bucket never froze with the stock tank heater inside, just the individual nipples, and that only happened when we'd get in that 20 below temperature range and stay there for a few days. I would have been going out there anyway, so it was easy to just grab the heat gun on the way out.

Edited to add a big ol' hug for Leslie!

You too!!!

I found this thread cyber-stalking you. I hope you're well!

 

[Blooie]

You too!!!

I found this thread cyber-stalking you. I hope you're well!

I'll PM you. Miss you like crazy but don't wanna hijack the thread!

 

[goofychickens]

Goodness people I'm gonna make Another poll including the nipple waterer