Water Clean, Thaw, and Outside..?

[Armstrt8]

I currently have one of these base style water heaters that kicks on when its below 35. It is inside the coop and works well. I have a 5 and 6 gallon double walled water container like the one below. They were outside but are now freezing too fast. The heater states on it that it is for indoor use only..... is anyone using these outside?? If so, did you build some type of small structure around it to keep debris off?

The trouble I am having in the coop is that the water container gets FILTHY! I am also noticing much higher moisture within the coop to the extent that I added an additional vent. Lastly, aside from the waterer getting dirty the water makes its way into the bedding and just... I don't want it inside anymore! On a cold day, sure I will throw some water in there, but I want it outside.

So.... long story short I guess.... does anyone use this type of base heater outside with success?

Heater:

Water Container:

 

[imnukensc]

I use one of those heaters on this homemade horizontal nipple waterer. It's outside in the covered run. This pic only shows the waterer. Hasn't gotten cold enough yet to use it this year, but it's worked fine the last couple winters.

 

[imnukensc]

I've seen people use them outside, but, yeah, some shelter would be good.

HN's are the bomb, I rarely use anything else.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/



Does it even freeze where you are?

Love your siggy!

Yeah, it actually does! We even occasionally have snow! The sig line comes from a T-shirt my son gave me. I was a chemist in my professional working days. Now I'm a professional retiree.

 

[wamtazlady]

You don't say where you are located so we have no idea how cold it gets where you are. I live in NW Montana. I don't think that sort of water system would work here when it gets down into the -20s F. I use a water system similar to imnukensc but I use a stock tank deicer to keep the water thawed and an 11 gallon tote with lid instead of the large jug. Horizontal nipples are fantastic. In 5 winters my water has never frozen and is kept outside in the covered run.

 

[wamtazlady]

@Kikiriki You might want to try the system blackdog043, and I use. Has gotten down into the -20s F and has never frozen. What you need is a water container. I use a plastic tote with lid, and blackdog042 uses a plastic barrel. We both use horizontal nipples and a 250 watt stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. The deicer has a built in thermostat so it turns on at 35 degrees and off again at 40 or 45 which makes it pretty efficient and safe. Harder to start a fire when the heating element is under water. Some of the benefits are that the water stays thawed, the water stays clean, and with mine the 11 gallon tote holds enough water to last 12 chickens for a week so less filling. As for costs, my tote was about $7, the horizontal nipples about $10, and the stock tank deicer about $40. The stock tank deicer is a good deal as mine is now on its 5th year of use.

 

[wamtazlady]

Central Minnesota for me, so.. it gets cold!

I have 4 of those oasis type chicken watering cups I have used yet. After a little research I think I am going to build a simple 1x1x2 box with a side half cutout. Stick the heater in there with a 5 gal bucket and a couple of the oasis cups. That should keep it out of the elements plenty. I will show you what I mean tmr once done!

I have to warn you. Those cup type waterers freeze really fast. They will be frozen when horizontal nipples and even vertical nipples are still thawed. I would not recommend them for your cold winters.

 

[aart]

So... how do you teach your chickens to drink from HN, or should I start another thread for this question?

It can be easy-peasy or frustratingly worrisome.

I've had all age birds either pick it right up within an hour...and others that take weeks to really figure it out.

Here's my thoughts on 'nipple training'.

First, it's good to know how much water your flock consumes 'normally', I top off water every morning and have marks on the waterers so I know about how much they drink.

-Show them how with your finger(tho that might just train them to wait for your finger), and/or manually grab them and push their head/beak onto the trigger(easier with chicks than adults).

-No other water source, best to 'train' during mild weather when dehydration is less of an immediate health risk. I do provide an open waterer late in day to make sure they don't go to roost dehydrated, especially young chicks.

It can take days or weeks to get them fully switched over, just takes observation, consistency, and patience.

 

[Criticalicious]

Adults can learn how to use HN fairly quickly. I've seen 2 day old chicks take to them too, although I offered additional water in case they couldn't move the pin easily. Chickens will still drink from mud puddles if given a choice because they're chickens

 

[blackdog043]

I'll start my next batch of chicks off from the get-go, and hope they train the older girls.

I made a HN waterer for my brooder with a pitcher, so it doesn't take up a lot of room. I wait until they are 2 weeks old to start using it and have the chick waterer still available for at least a week. Keep raising it as they grow also.

 

[aart]

I made a HN waterer for my brooder with a pitcher, so it doesn't take up a lot of room. I wait until they are 2 weeks old to start using it and have the chick waterer still available for at least a week.

Mines even smaller
I also provide a regular chick waterer and start taking it away for most the day at about 2 weeks, I put it out for an hour in the morning and again late afternoon.
In house brooder:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nipple-waterer-for-wire-crates-by-aart.72704/

In coop brooder:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/2-nipple-quart-water-bottle-holder.67773/