Waterer reccommendations

[Galeann]

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I am sorry. There was miscommunication here. What I am saying is that if you have a heated container, vertical nipples will freeze much faster than horizontal nipples. I am not saying horizontal nipples do not need a heated container. Horizontal nipples would not keep the container of water itself from freezing. Both types of nipples need heated containers when the temperatures are below freezing.

Vertical nipples have a little bit of water in them even when they are not being used. That little bit of water hanging down below the bucket is susceptible to freezing. On the other hand, horizontal nipples have an o ring that keeps water out of the nipple when not in use. Vertical nipples used in a heated container are good choices for those who live in areas that get cold, but not bitterly cold. Where I live -22 F is a normal low for winter. Vertical nipples would freeze at that temperature whereas horizontal nipples do not.

Thank you for the education. I did not know about the o ring.

 

[Galeann]

I love my 5 gallon buckets with horizontal nipples. Best invention ever! In the winter. I sit my bucket on my cookie tin heater and never have frozen water.

Some here on BYC have used the cookie tins in near zero weather with no problems.

cookie tin

Cookie tin heaters? Do your waterers ever slide off during excited chicken flapping?

 

[katieuppi]

We are loving this one. It has feet so you can set it down to fill. We also have a one gallon homemade version that has been fine. We needed a bigger one when we doubled our flock recently.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FHUGWK4/?tag=backy-20

 

[Galeann]

We are loving this one. It has feet so you can set it down to fill. We also have a one gallon homemade version that has been fine. We needed a bigger one when we doubled our flock recently.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FHUGWK4/?tag=backy-20

Looks like a nice sturdy waterer.

 

[henless]

Cookie tin heaters? Do your waterers ever slide off during excited chicken flapping?

No. I bungee cord the bucket handle to the hardware cloth to prevent this.

 

[Lilalienangel]

I don't have many chickens but a heated dog bowl has worked awesomely for my setup.

 

[archeryrob]

I like using horizontal water nipples. The water stays clean. If you need a heated waterer, my article is below. If you don't need to keep your water from freezing, omit the deicer. The nipples can be used in a lot of different containers.
View attachment 1927068

I have this same setup for two coops with 15+ in each coop. I fill it up every week and a half or so and about every third time I drop a 1/2 tablespoon of bleach into the water. It started to get a bit stinky with white algae growing and that clears it right up.

Going to try a tank heater this year and maybe an insulation blanket, so I'd be interested if anyone did anything similar.