What litter would be best in my coop

[Beenicole2]

What kind of nipples, bottom of bucket(Vertical Nipples) or side(Horizontal Nipples)?
The HN's will resist freezing better than the VN's, and they usually leak much less if installed properly. Insulating your bucket will help a lot. I use an aquarium heater...but that might be risky at your temps. It's been fine here down to -12F(I hear you laughing), but could be risky if a glass heater broke.

Even here a wet poop can lock up the sand/pdz mix I use on roost boards,
but with the heavy foam backed vinyl that lines the boards most pop loose pretty easy.
I use a short handled hoe and sift out poops every day or two.

The bucket that was already in the coop has vertical nipples. I'll have to try it out and see if it leaks. I'll try switching to horizontal ones if it does.

I think I'll still try the PDZ and see how it goes. Hopefully it works out and if not I'll find something else. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[aart]

The bucket that was already in the coop has vertical nipples. I'll have to try it out and see if it leaks. I'll try switching to horizontal ones if it does.

I think I'll still try the PDZ and see how it goes. Hopefully it works out and if not I'll find something else. Thank you so much for your help!

The big difference between VN's and HN's is where and how they seal.
The HN's seal inside the vessel, in contact with the heated water, with a rubber o-ring that is held closed with a spring.
The VN's are sealed metal on metal, outside the bucket, by gravity only.

The PDZ is worth using even if when it freezes.

 

[Beenicole2]

The big difference between VN's and HN's is where and how they seal.
The HN's seal inside the vessel, in contact with the heated water, with a rubber o-ring that is held closed with a spring.
The VN's are sealed metal on metal, outside the bucket, by gravity only.

The PDZ is worth using even if when it freezes.

That's great to know, I'll have to switch out the water bucket.
Thank you so much for your help!