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

[TheGeekySheep]

So this week was a great experiment with my new horizontal nipple waterer and freezing. The nipples themselves don't freeze because they don't hold water like the vertical ones do, but if all the water in the bucket freezes, all the way down to the nipples, they obviously don't operate. For me that temp was 15ºF on Wednesday morning. This morning it got down to 20ºF and the nipples were still working.

I'm considering investing in a stock tank de-icer to put in the bucket since I have power in the barn, but for the few days it gets below 20ºF I'm not sure it's worth it. We'll see how this Winter goes. It sure beats carrying warm water down to the coop every morning like last year!

 

[debp]

I have 4 horizontal nipples in my 5 gal. plastic bucket, and they all froze when it got down to 15º F in the coop. The water was frozen only at the top.

 

[aart]

I have the 6 HN's in a 2 gallon jug, had a heater but it died, the nipples have stayed operational for 3-4 hours in 20-25F.

Some of them hold water on the little lip on the outside and freeze up, some don't and stay working.

Luckily I have 2 jugs, so I just swap them out a couple times a day until I can get another heater.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@aart and mine froze just under 30 F at the springs.

I have been using a bird bath deicer and it is keeping everything thawed with no problem so fat. I will probably switch to my glass aquarium heater because I don't like using aluminum (which the bird bath deicer has).

This is the deicer I have:

http://www.amazon.com/Allied-Precision-BDT250-Multiple-Thermostat/dp/B000TZ745A

Allied Precision BDT250 Bird Bath De Icer Multiple Thermostat, 250-Watt


Of course, we'll have to see how it does when it's in the single digets and below. I don't think I paid as much as the Amazon price. I only used it for part of one season so I can't say how long/well it will last. My box says it has a 3 year warranty.

DISCLAIMER - PHOTOs SHOWS A DIFFERENT KIND OF WATER CUP. THESE DID NOT WORK FOR WINTER.

I put the bb deicer in a pyrex in the bucket so that it isn't sitting on the plactic. It is approved for use on plastic but I just don't like it sitting right on there as I want to at least try to prevent it leaching more into the water.

aart used a fish tank heater that "died" quickly so they are not all created equally.

I used my fish tank heater for a whole season with no problem. It is this kind... 50 watt:

Got it at the local PetSmart. Used a pack of marbles attached to it to keep it under the water.

THEY MUST BE TOTALLY SUBMERGED under the water. Marbles attached to keep it under for weight.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

It probably makes a difference that my bucket is in the barn out of the wind. That probably keeps the drips on the outside from freezing.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Mine was inside too when the little nipples began to get ice around them INSIDE THE BUCKET. it was pretty strange. Just around the nipple itself was the only place that froze just under freezing temp. The whole rest of the bucket stayed thawed.

I wonder what you inside the barn temps are?

 

[TheGeekySheep]

Mine was inside too when the little nipples began to get ice around them INSIDE THE BUCKET. it was pretty strange. Just around the nipple itself was the only place that froze just under freezing temp. The whole rest of the bucket stayed thawed.

I wonder what you inside the barn temps are?

It can't be much different than outside, it's uninsulated metal. Very odd.

 

[aart]

Mine was inside too when the little nipples began to get ice around them INSIDE THE BUCKET. it was pretty strange. Just around the nipple itself was the only place that froze just under freezing temp. The whole rest of the bucket stayed thawed.

I wonder what you inside the barn temps are?

I saw this same thing...I think it's because the metal pin transfers the cold so freezes up first.

Mine is also inside the coop inside a large shed, not outside in the run.
Temps are the same as outside but windchill is taken out of the picture.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

I guess I just got lucky? I will probably end up getting a heater just for peace of mind. Unfortunately my local farm stores don't carry them so I'm going to have to order from Amazon.

 

[aart]

I guess I just got lucky? I will probably end up getting a heater just for peace of mind. Unfortunately my local farm stores don't carry them so I'm going to have to order from Amazon.

Do you have thermometers inside and outside your barn?