Vertical (gravity) vs. horizontal (spring loaded) watering nipples

[Leahs Mom]

I think she meant horizontal, not vertical.
......and yes, no way cup would stay thawed with just heated water.

What is a V-nipple?

I had to edit. I meant to say horizontal nipple in my first post.

V-nipple is the vertical ones that hang down from the bucket.

AA - the photos you sent me in pm showed me how much more recessed the spring part is into the water. Then I ordered some and they are really way more into the bucket where the heat of the water in the bucket may keep them thawed so I'm hopeful.

Last winter it was in the negatives for several weeks. I just hate maintaining waterers. I do have a backup plan if this doesn't work but this option is safer (keeping the birds from frostbite compared to my other option) and I'm hoping these work and they learn to use them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh...and the ones I tried before did not keep water in the cups. It wasn't water freezing in the cups it was the springs that would coat w/ice and freeze. I'm only concerned about the springs.

 

[aart]

Quote: Oh yeah... DUH!

 

[pdirt]

Okay..I need to clarify.

I used water cups that have springs loaded horizontal nipples. You can see the type on the photos with the heater in the glass. It was the SPRINGS in those that would get frozen. Not the water.

I haven't tried the HORIZONTAL nipples that we are discussing on this thread. But they DO have springs that could get coated just like the ones I had.

So..
I was concerned that they might freeze just like the ones that I had before. I haven't tried these. I will be trying them next winter to see how they do. I have them here and the design may be better because the springs are more recessed into the bucket than they are on the ones I used before. They are housed in the plastic part that screws in so the heat of the water around the spring housing my keep them thawed better. The ones I used before were not as protected and were not recessed into the bucket like these so the spring part really didn't have the advantage of having warm water around it's housing.

So...I'm hopeful on these. If my birds will use them Just have to do the winter experiment.




EDITED TO FIX A MISTAKE

Sigh! The challenges of an online forum we have here. Perhaps someday the internet will be so efficient we could sit around and have a video discussion because so much info gets lost otherwise. I misunderstand you, you misunderstand me... Don't get me wrong, I don't think either of us have done anything wrong, it's just so easy to misunderstand each other on these types of forums!

I should have clarified...what I mean by horizontal nipples are the square ones like this: http://www.amazon.com/Horizontal-Side-Mount-Poultry-Nipples/dp/B00JXUAD0K

I know that you now know that is what I meant, but it seems perhaps you were, at one point, confusing the horizontal nipple mechanism in the poultry cups you were using with what I am calling Horizontal Nipples (per the amazon link)?

For others, I'm sorry my shorthand was confusing...
V-nipple = vertical nipples
H-nipple = horizontal nipples

Nonetheless, I think you are right on the design differences. I've had no issues with the H-nipples freezing and as far as I know (amongst those using some sort of heating device), others on BYC have not had an issue either.

Having not seen or used the poultry watering cups, it seems quite possible, based upon your description of the spring-loaded design, to make it more like the H-nipples and thus avoid the freezing lever issue while still retaining the cup design. Perhaps the water in the cup would freeze, but at least the mechanism wouldn't? Another reason I was not interested in the cups is due to the number of birds and the relatively tight space I have to walk around in the run where the water bucket is, I'd likely bump into the protruding cups and break them off eventually.

 

[Leahs Mom]

What is the consensus on drill bit size for these? I had one bucket that has developed cracks above the holes after about a month. Got me thinking that perhaps I had drilled too small and caused stress but not sure really why they cracked.

So..
What size bit are you all using?

 

[iwiw60]

What is the consensus on drill bit size for these? I had one bucket that has developed cracks above the holes after about a month. Got me thinking that perhaps I had drilled too small and caused stress but not sure really why they cracked.

So..
What size bit are you all using?

You have to use a 3/8" drill bit only! When I've made mine I used a drill bit that has a 'pointy prong' of sorts on the end, kinda like if you wanted to drill a circle out of plywood? That worked super for me cause I was able to 'punch' the pointy tip into the bucket and I drilled very slowly. As for the cracking? Maybe your bucket was an old one and was dry/brittle? Just thinkin' !!

 

[aart]

What is the consensus on drill bit size for these? I had one bucket that has developed cracks above the holes after about a month. Got me thinking that perhaps I had drilled too small and caused stress but not sure really why they cracked.

So..
What size bit are you all using?

In thinner plastic(jugs & jars) I used a 5/16, had to push to get it started but gave me more leeway in tightening...only had to thread it in about halfway to get a seal.
Haven't tried it in thicker plastic yet.

 

[ktn65]

In thinner plastic(jugs & jars) I used a 5/16, had to push to get it started but gave me more leeway in tightening...only had to thread it in about halfway to get a seal.
Haven't tried it in thicker plastic yet.

I did the same thing with the gallon plastic jug I used for my test/pullet training go.

I did buy an 11/32 bit to use on the 5 gallon buckets for my actual run, but have not got to that part of the project yet. I will post my results when I get there.

 

[David1998]

What is the consensus on drill bit size for these? I had one bucket that has developed cracks above the holes after about a month. Got me thinking that perhaps I had drilled too small and caused stress but not sure really why they cracked.

So..
What size bit are you all using?

I'm pretty confident the hole size wasn't the reason for the crack. UV light is very bad for most plastics and makes them brittle. My bet is you had an old bucket or one that's seen too much sun. Put them in the shade if they aren't already.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Not the case in this crack. Brand new bucket. Kept in the shade without exception.