Winter watering solution?

[AircraftMech]

I stumbled across this set up when looking for different types of water heaters:

http://hoofinitnorth.com/poultryh2oheater.htm

I figure that is what I am going to try. I am going to do the A/C electric hook up method because we are lucky enough to have electric at the coop. And I am going to use one of the thermostat style plugs for the set up. The neat thing is they have the instructions to do a D/C battery style hook up also. I don't know how well it would work though. You would have to have two car batteries and a battery charger and then rotate the batteries. But it might be a good thing to have as a "just in case" set up.

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
Then why do all the ones at my FIL's farm seem to leak?

Maybe they're really old? Or a cheap knockoff?

 

[CUDA]

You have to get the right kind. Get the thick black plastic horse bowls.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I get the fortex bowls (found at tractor supply), and I give them new water 2 - 3 times a day.

 

[Lee]

Quote:
During the winter the sun shines on the back of my house and my chickens like to hang out there taking advantage of the heat absorbed by the bricks. There is a water spigot there and I keep one of the fortex rubber bowls there and it doesn't freeze during the day. I call it Water Hole #2. Water Hole #1 being in their coop with the water fount on a heated base. Works out pretty well.

 

[CUDA]

Providing water once a day is sufficient for chickens. They will drink all they need before it freezes, plus they will eat snow as well.

 

[Lee]

Quote:
This is a great idea. I can do this! If my local auto parts store sells the oil pan heater. I wanted to get a second base heater. THANX!

 

[SSO202]

Okay so back to the original post... Can anyone give a link to a website where the nipples to screw onto 2 litter bottles can be purchased? Does anybody have experience with those style waterers and their chickens?

 

[Lee]

Quote:
These companies sell the nipples.

www.bassequipment.com

www.klubertanz.com

I have used rabbit water bottles with my chickens. The water droplets from the nipples attract the chickens and they quickly learn to drink from them. Because they don't have lips some water is wasted, but it is no different that a large parrot using the same kind of water bottle.

 

[CarolAnn]

Nice thing about the black rubber bowls is you can flip them over and pop the frozen contents out by stomping the bottom with your foot. No need to pick them up. Being rubber you can also kick them loose , if they're frozen to the ground, and they won't bend like metal or break/crack/chip like plastic.