Winterizing Nipple Waterers? UPDATE Really? No One Knows?

[trsturself]

Those copper things are designed for the vertical nipples, I don't think they will work with the horizontal nipples. The horizontal nipples have worked MUCH better than the vertical ones for us. Haven't had them freeze up yet, down to -9F, whereas the vertical ones froze up around 20F. This was using a deicer device in the bucket, which kept the water around 40F.

You might try not using the thermocube and just turn the aquarium heater to the lowest setting and see if that works. It worked for us with the vertical nipples to much colder temps. Perhaps the thermocube is turning off the heater too often.

Other than freezing nipples issues, the main reason we switched to the horizontal ones is our birds were getting wet every time they drank from the vertical nipples. Frostbite, minor at that, but not good to have wet birds in freezing temps.

Yes, sorry, that should say vertical not horizontal, since that's what they already had. Interesting the horizontal have worked better for you. I wonder why.

 

[pdirt]

The horizontal nipples shouldn't fix it. It is still wet metal exposed to cold air. Might even be worse because there will be a puddle of water in the cups. Don't know for sure though.

The horizontal nipples shouldn't fix it. It is still wet metal exposed to cold air. Might even be worse because there will be a puddle of water in the cups. Don't know for sure though.

Trust me, I've tried both and the horizontal nipples are just a way better design. There is no little puddle in the "cup" (more like a shallow depression) because the chickens drink it all up! At least mine do. Even if there was frozen water in the "cup", it would be plenty far enough away from the metal lever to not impede function. The only metal contact with water (warm water at that) is INSIDE the bucket, which is even then sealed with a silicone gasket. There is also no metal on metal contact in the horizontal nipples, unlike the vertical ones. They just don't freeze up as long as you keep the water in the bucket thawed.

 

[pdirt]

Yes, sorry, that should say vertical not horizontal, since that's what they already had. Interesting the horizontal have worked better for you. I wonder why.

Yeah, after I posted that I re-read your post and figured you meant to say vertical. I mix things like up that all the time!

Did you try the horizontal nipples and they didn't work as well for you?

 

[trsturself]

Trust me, I've tried both and the horizontal nipples are just a way better design. There is no little puddle in the "cup" (more like a shallow depression) because the chickens drink it all up! At least mine do. Even if there was frozen water in the "cup", it would be plenty far enough away from the metal lever to not impede function. The only metal contact with water (warm water at that) is INSIDE the bucket, which is even then sealed with a silicone gasket. There is also no metal on metal contact in the horizontal nipples, unlike the vertical ones. They just don't freeze up as long as you keep the water in the bucket thawed.

Yeah, after I posted that I re-read your post and figured you meant to say vertical. I mix things like up that all the time!

Did you try the horizontal nipples and they didn't work as well for you?

Trust me, I've tried both and the horizontal nipples are just a way better design. There is no little puddle in the "cup" (more like a shallow depression) because the chickens drink it all up! At least mine do. Even if there was frozen water in the "cup", it would be plenty far enough away from the metal lever to not impede function. The only metal contact with water (warm water at that) is INSIDE the bucket, which is even then sealed with a silicone gasket. There is also no metal on metal contact in the horizontal nipples, unlike the vertical ones. They just don't freeze up as long as you keep the water in the bucket thawed.

Yeah, after I posted that I re-read your post and figured you meant to say vertical. I mix things like up that all the time!

Did you try the horizontal nipples and they didn't work as well for you?

I haven't tried the horizontal ones. That's interesting what you experience was. I might have to switch to those!

 

[cooliechick]

Be aware that there is a difference between the horizontal nipples and the cups that many use. Both attach to the side of a bucket but they are two different concepts.

Here is a photo of the horizontal nipples on a bucket.

Here is one of the cups.

As you can see, they are two different things. I think some are confusing one for the other.

 

[trsturself]

Be aware that there is a difference between the horizontal nipples and the cups that many use. Both attach to the side of a bucket but they are two different concepts.

Here is a photo of the horizontal nipples on a bucket.

Here is one of the cups.

As you can see, they are two different things. I think some are confusing one for the other.

thanks! Yes, I was thinking of the cup ones and picturing the water freezing in them.

 

[pdirt]

Quote:
My understanding is the poultry cups simply don't work for freezing conditions. I haven't yet read of someone who has said they could get them to work if water freezes where they live.

 

[Shido Burrito]

Update on switching to horizontal nipples: so far so good. It's been in the mid to high 20s the past few days and no freezing! I'll let you know if they freeze when the temps drop into the teens again!

 

[detz]

I'm planning on running some experiments in the next few weeks to see what setup works best in the winter since I'm not building my coop until the spring. The experiments I have planned are:

- 5 gallon bucket with bird feeder heater
- 5 gallon bucket with small fountain pump
- 5 gallon bucket with heater and pump
- 5 gallon bucket with heater with 3'->elbow->2' of 2" pvc connected
- 5 gallon bucket with heater and pump with 3'->elbow->2' of 2" pvc connected

If I have time and energy I want to loop back the pvc and try to force circulation through the pvc pipe but that's a maybe. I plan on measuring the water over a span of time (one week) at different spots. The temperature is around 30 here right now but can dip to the teens at night.

 

[aart]

I'm planning on running some experiments in the next few weeks to see what setup works best in the winter since I'm not building my coop until the spring. The experiments I have planned are:

- 5 gallon bucket with bird feeder heater
- 5 gallon bucket with small fountain pump
- 5 gallon bucket with heater and pump
- 5 gallon bucket with heater with 3'->elbow->2' of 2" pvc connected
- 5 gallon bucket with heater and pump with 3'->elbow->2' of 2" pvc connected

If I have time and energy I want to loop back the pvc and try to force circulation through the pvc pipe but that's a maybe. I plan on measuring the water over a span of time (one week) at different spots. The temperature is around 30 here right now but can dip to the teens at night.

What kind of nipples are you going to use, if any?
Would be nice if you started a new thread with your experiment parameters and the data from testing.