Pvc water supply in cold climates ?

[concrete_boots]

Everyone with pvc water systems who live in places that see winters...how do you keep the water from freezing and pvc pipes cracking ?
I live in NJ so some winters days could be 50deg (F) some days could be 5deg..in process of completing inside coop layout and want to integrate water and food supply in the coop that isn’t the typical waterer that gets full bugs, dirt, shavings, etc..the one thing about those that’s nice is they sell the bottom heater things, but liking the pvc style..maybe some kind of hanging bucket...trying to be efficient and clean but no ignorant to climate changes...any input?

 

[blackdog043]

It's not a pvc waterer, but it works great year round. Just add the deicer in the colder months, the water stay clean 24/7.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If using a PVC system, you either need to drain it when freezing temps hit or figure out a heated, circulated water system.

 

[concrete_boots]

Thinking of going with one of these..

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heated-poultry-waterer?cat_id=227

Maybe add PVC filler tube to it to hold more water in warmer months...

 

[gtaus]

Thinking of going with one of these...https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heated-poultry-waterer?cat_id=227...

I bought a metal base heater and a 3 gallon metal waterer. The heater is rated to keep the water ice free down to about +12F. The link from premier1supplies is also a 3 gallon waterer, but claims to keep water ice free down to -20F. Even better, it costs less than I paid for my base heater + waterer combo. If I had known about the premier1 heated poultry waterer, I would have gone for that instead. Thanks for the link.

 

[wamtazlady]

Thinking of going with one of these..

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heated-poultry-waterer?cat_id=227

Maybe add PVC filler tube to it to hold more water in warmer months...

That is the same system blackdog043 and I use. We use home made systems that hold more water which works better for me as I only need to fill the water once a week or so. My water has stayed thawed down to -22 F.

 

[concrete_boots]

That is the same system blackdog043 and I use. We use home made systems that hold more water which works better for me as I only need to fill the water once a week or so. My water has stayed thawed down to -22 F.

Thanks !
Any pics of your setup .?

 

[wamtazlady]

I don't have any picture of mine but it is very similar to what blackdog043 uses. My water container is an 11 gallon tote with lid that I bought from Walmart. That is really the only real difference between our waterers. The tote has horizontal nipples mounted a couple inches above the bottom of the container. A hole was cut in the back for the cord of the stock tank deicer. My container sits on an old ottoman from a living room chair.

Horizontal nipples can be purchased online. Stock tank deicers can be purchased from most feed stores or online. The one I got is 250 watts and is rated to be okay to use in plastic containers. It turns on at about 35 degrees and off when it gets to 45 degrees. My stock tank deicer has worked flawlessly through 4 Northern Montana winters.

 

[concrete_boots]

Cool thanks. I think I’m going to get the one I posted as it’s all self contained with great reviews, only thing I’m wondeing if it would be ok not raised up or hung, just sitting on coop floor...most waterers I see with nipples are hung higher, but the regular water bucket with the basin at bottom are always just sitting on the ground..so obviously chickens can drink both ways, any disadvantages to having the nipples where they have to bend down to get to them ?
That make sense ?

 

[concrete_boots]

I plan on one in coop and one in run..one in run I would most likely hang...either another of the heated one or a home made bucket with nipples..I don’t like the idea of open water container
Was thinking the heated one in coop so there was always non frozen water in there and just have to manage the run water in the cold month or so we get in the winter