Show Us Your Chicken Nipples!!!!!!

[briteday]

DJSams...how did you connect the tubing to the barrel? I have a similar barrel and was hoping to do something like yours but haven't figured out how to connect tubing without leaking???? And I'm assuming that you have the barrel raised up for a reason?

 

[DJSams]

Yes, the barrel is raised because it has to be gravity feed . There was a plug in the barrel that had threads in it,(turn the barrel up side down) just bought a fitting that would fit it and connected plastic tubing to the fitting and then ran it to both pvc pipes and connected to them. The barrel has a stock tank float on it connect to garden hose also.

 

[buildingmyark]

Just wanted to give a fair warning to all of you new nipple enthusiast.... We set up a fairly elaborate water system for ours. The pipes ran from a five gallon bucket (down) into the coop, the run and outside for use during free range time. When winter came I guess the pipes froze and the nipples popped out of the pipe (I can't think of a way to make that sound right. ) Then I tried to insulate them with that black foam that fits around the pipes. Well the chickens decided was fun to peck on and pull off. I finally ended up duck taping the entire length of the pipe insulation to keep it somewhat intact.

Lesson learned... The bucket method is the way to go if your temperatures get below freezing. We have also found that the push-in style nipples with the rubber gaskets don't leak like the screw-in type.

 

[j3707]

Agree that buckets are the way to go during freezing weather. Even with foam insulation on the pvc pipe, the nipple itself is exposed and freezes very quickly. I use a bucket and fill 2x/day with warm water for 3 or 4 weeks out of the year. I just let the barrel, pipe and nipple freeze, haven't had any problems with leaks or split pipes. It's been a great system...only have to fill it once or twice a year.

Here's a thread I posted a while back on this barrel setup:




https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3821070#p3821070

 

[Cattitude]

I wonder how a small stock tank heater would work for that problem?

 

[j3707]

Might work for a bucket setup, because the nipple has direct contact with the heated water. The nipple is too far away on the barrel setup. Heat tape around the pipe might work...