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

[venymae]

following. We live in KS and get cold winters. Trying to research the best way to water.

 

[fried green eggs]

It was -40F a few weeks ago in NW Maine....not sure the horizontal nipples would fly in that sort of cold!

If you have a 250 watt bird bath deicer and have 6-8 birds per HN then the birds won't leave water in the little catch below so there should be nothing to freeze. I put foil bubble insulation inside the bucket, glued to the sides with food grade caulk. I was able to use 40 watt deicers inside the coops. Only one that froze was because a deicer when bad and quit working.

 

[venymae]

If you have a 250 watt bird bath deicer and have 6-8 birds per HN then the birds won't leave water in the little catch below so there should be nothing to freeze. I put foil bubble insulation inside the bucket, glued to the sides with food grade caulk. I was able to use 40 watt deicers inside the coops. Only one that froze was because a deicer when bad and quit working.

Did you mean outside for the foil bubble insulation? How would that work inside?

 

[fried green eggs]

Did you mean outside for the foil bubble insulation? How would that work inside?

I cut to fit the inside of the bucket and use food grade caulk at the seam and multiple spots at the bottom edge just above the nipples and top edge so it stays in place. I use only heavy duty buckets so they last and my local feed store sells the HN buckets I make for me.
Foil bubble insulation on the outside will have a very short life even if covered with duct tape. Foil covered with a heavy tarp/feed bag will last a little longer but the tape at seam still wares out to soon.

 

[MillermanKT]

I'm a first time chicken guy and i'm looking to use the vertical nipples with pvc pipe. Has anyone tried using heat tape on the pvc ? We've had several days in the below temps here in WNY the last couple winters, I'm curious if heat tape would keep it from freezing. thanx.

 

[aart]

Quote: I have the foil bubble wrap on the outside of jug, it's lasted over winter just fine......
......they did pop some of the bubbles, the seam was against the wall so they couldn't get at it.

I would worry about not being able to clean between the foil and the bucket if it was inside the bucket.

 

[fried green eggs]

Not a issue. All the sediment goes to the bottom of the bucket and the foil is above the nipples so the sides and water stays clean. The bottom is easy to wipe out, do a quick bleach water sanitizer and re-rinse and it's good to go.

 

[aart]

Not a issue. All the sediment goes to the bottom of the bucket and the foil is above the nipples so the sides and water stays clean. The bottom is easy to wipe out, do a quick bleach water sanitizer and re-rinse and it's good to go.

Rinse between the foil and bucket too?
Perfect place for bio load to grow.

 

[pdirt]

Quote:
That's my thought as well.

@fried green eggs , do you have every edge of the foil bubble wrap sealed tight with the caulking? If so, then perhaps it would be okay. No water would get between the foil bubble wrap and the bucket, nor would it get inside the bubble wrap. I would think, though, it would be hard to get bleach/sanitizer to fill all the tiny internal pockets of the bubble wrap if it was unsealed.

I get mild green funk in my bucket, perhaps it's from the well water. But not sure it's worth worrying about much because the chickens drink out of some pretty nasty puddles when they have the chance! Still, I like to keep their main water source as clean as possible...I'm sure it's good for general health maintenance.

I had the bubble wrap on the outside of the bucket this winter (I've since removed it). Out of 23 chickens, a few of them pecked at it a little bit, but not much. At their current rate of pecking at it, I expect the wrap to last another 5 years. But I do like your idea of using an old plastic feed back to cover the bubble wrap with, I think I'll try that next winter!

 

[mainechicklet]

Can you use ACV with the nipple system? (metal parts)