Winter water suggestions

[ASHLEYINAK]

Have you had any issues with wattles being wet then getting frostbite with this waterer? Thank you.

I haven't had any noticeable issues! Like... never had a sign of an issue at all. Thankfully!

 

[DickMidnight]

I use a 20 gallon clear plastic tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. The deicer has a built in thermostat. Only have to fill it every 2 weeks which to me is a plus during the winter.

awesome, and very similar to what i do. except your container is twice the size of mine.

all these people breaking ice or filling bowls daily are out of their minds!

 

[Thomaswgordon]

awesome, and very similar to what i do. except your container is twice the size of mine.

all these people breaking ice or filling bowls daily are out of their minds!

What nipples do you have? Trying to figure the best ones to just use existing bucket

 

[DickMidnight]

What nipples do you have? Trying to figure the best ones to just use existing bucket

horizontal nipples that i ordered on amazon.

the 250w tank deicer works great.

 

[wamtazlady]

Vertical nipples will freeze when it gets cold. My horizontal nipples have worked even when the outside temperature was -26 F.

What nipples do you have? Trying to figure the best ones to just use existing bucket

 

[wamtazlady]

awesome, and very similar to what i do. except your container is twice the size of mine.

all these people breaking ice or filling bowls daily are out of their minds!

Last year I used a 14 gallon tote. It needed replaced as the plastic gets brittle after time so decided to get the larger tote. If I remember correctly the stock tank deicer says it will keep 35 gallons thawed. The night temperatures have been in the single digits and so far the deicer has kept the water thawed.

Some people just don't have electricity close enough to the coop to run an extension cord. Glad that is not me. At my age I just can not safely go out and check on the birds every day, let alone twice a day to haul water.

 

[Thomaswgordon]

Vertical nipples will freeze when it gets cold. My horizontal nipples have worked even when the outside temperature was -26 F.

I see a couple options on Amazon. Which ones do you have? And is it difficult to teach them how to use?

 

[wamtazlady]

I see a couple options on Amazon. Which ones do you have? And is it difficult to teach them how to use?

Some people have chickens that they say never learn to use the nipples. I have a method that has never failed. I put the new waterer with nipples in the run. I remove all other sources of water and I walk away. Have never had a chicken die from lack of water. Usually the chickens are using the new waterer within an hour. I would hesitate to change to nipples when it's very hot or very cold. Some chickens will probably be a bit slower to get enough water and I would prefer that to happen when the temperatures are more moderate.

Chickens are curious. They are attracted to the shiny metal and the color red. They will peck the nipple and run away. When nothing scary happens they will peck the nipple more and eventually stop running away. Doesn't take them long to realize that water comes out of the nipple.

 

[wamtazlady]

I see a couple options on Amazon. Which ones do you have? And is it difficult to teach them how to use?

When I looked a couple months ago all the horizontal nipples offered on Amazon were basically about the same. They are red with shiny metal. You just don't want the veritcal nipples as they will freeze when it gets cold even if you have thawed water. So get the nipples that go in the side of the container, not the bottom.

 

[TooCheep]

And not the cups.... Those stick out from the container and can freeze.