Trailer Coop Build (Pic heavy)

[aart]

I plan to add something to heat the water but do not have circulation.

Won't work unless you circulate the warmed water thru that pipe.

The water was ok but the nipples froze solid

Horizontal Nipples or Vertical Nipples?
You had a pipe similar to Pip's?

 

[sybonbon]

Won't work unless you circulate the warmed water thru that pipe.

Horizontal Nipples or Vertical Nipples?
You had a pipe similar to Pip's?

I used verticle nipples. Yes very similar.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Won't work unless you circulate the warmed water thru that pipe.

Hmm, I am guessing you have but...have you tried?

I understand the logic, owned a hot tub at one point and know that water sitting in pipes gets pretty dang cold when the pumps aren't circulating, but this would be a relatively short system, a 5 gallon bucket with the heater in it, 4ft hose, and 4ft pipe.

 

[ColoradoPip]

I used verticle nipples. Yes very similar.

The vertical ones are known to freeze whereas the horizontal ones are designed differently with a spring and gasket (I'm probably over simplifying or butchering the engineering lol) so they don't freeze (supposedly)

 

[aart]

Hmm, I am guessing you have but...have you tried?

I thought long and hard about a piping system, decided it was way too complicated to operate, but fun to design.
So went with this, it has performed wonderfully for 5 years now at lows below zero(-12°F is lowest I've observed)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/
I just remove the heater and insulation for summer.

The vertical ones are known to freeze whereas the horizontal ones are designed differently with a spring and gasket (I'm probably over simplifying or butchering the engineering lol) so they don't freeze (supposedly)

Pretty close.
VN's seal with metal pin against plastic housing by gravity, why they can leak with one tiny piece of detritus, and that seal it outside the vessel in a tiny aperture.
HN's seal with a rubber gasket inside the vessel.
Here's good visual, non heated vessel.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Hmm, I guess we will see then. It's possible this tube will only be for spring-fall use. The good thing is spring just started so I should have so time to prep! Heated bases with metal open waterers are my fallback for winter.

 

[OlympicChick]

I am massively impressed. Just goes to show that you don't need experience or carpentry schooling to get something done. We are working right now on a 1979 single wide trailer that came on a 5 acre property we just purchased, and have taken everything out, down to the studs, removed the sub flooring and are building it back up again (for us, not the chickens). But there is the old axil underneath, which is disconnected. Hmmm, new project???

 

[Ted Brown]

I am happy, a little, lol. I wanted them out 2 weeks ago but wasn't ready They are almost 6 weeks old now!

Really glad there's only 3 older girls. Hoping there won't be carnage. Integration is planned for either next weekend or the weekend after
...

May I be bold? I encourage you to start integration immediately. Make a couple of openings big enough for the chicks (and too small for the older ladies) to move between the two coop areas. Stand back, watch. My chicks were faster than the older ones and has no problem evading the half hearted attempts to peck at the annoyances. Separate food/water of course.

Will make your life easier very quickly.

 

[ColoradoPip]

May I be bold? I encourage you to start integration immediately. Make a couple of openings big enough for the chicks (and too small for the older ladies) to move between the two coop areas. Stand back, watch. My chicks were faster than the older ones and has no problem evading the half hearted attempts to peak at the annoyances. Separate food/water of course.

Will make your life easier very quickly.

Yes, good idea! I wasn't really sure how I would integrate so this helps!

I have the small girls outside for an hour or so each day and one of the big girls is super interested in bullying them. My 3 older girls are...mother hen, couldn't care, and meanie. I am most concerned meanie will be relentless. She already paces the fenceline when the chicks are out.

 

[Ted Brown]

...I have the small girls outside for an hour or so each day and one of the big girls is super interested in bullying them. My 3 older girls are...mother hen, couldn't care, and meanie. I am most concerned meanie will be relentless. She already paces the fenceline when the chicks are out.

Others with more experience (@aart) will chime in. My experience was similar but allowing the chicks to mix with hidey holes, obstacles, etc will soon dissuade the older hens from chasing shadows.