Hi Everyone!
I've done a lot of searching of the archives and haven't found a definative answer. I've got a couple of questions, but I'm going to start with a couple of assumptions. I live in Northern Ohio, and water freezes here in the winter. Waterers will freeze solid. If I'm running a resevoir/pvc pipe system, it will freeze solid as well if unheated. I want to run a continuous loop system that will leave the resevoir, supply water inside the coop then supply water to the run and return to the resevoir. By using a small pump, I can circulate water through the system continuously.
1) Circulating water will not freeze (generally). If I do this, will the nipples freeze anyway?
2) If I put a heater in the resevoir and circulate the water, will the nipples freeze?
3) I've seen posts the recommend using heat tape on the pvc pipes. Will the pipes take the heat and will the chickens peck the tape and fry themselves? Will this keep the nipples from freezing?
4) Should I forget nipple waterers in the winter and use a "standard" waterer?
5) Is there anyone here with some real world, working knowledge of this?
Thanks for the help!
I've done a lot of searching of the archives and haven't found a definative answer. I've got a couple of questions, but I'm going to start with a couple of assumptions. I live in Northern Ohio, and water freezes here in the winter. Waterers will freeze solid. If I'm running a resevoir/pvc pipe system, it will freeze solid as well if unheated. I want to run a continuous loop system that will leave the resevoir, supply water inside the coop then supply water to the run and return to the resevoir. By using a small pump, I can circulate water through the system continuously.
1) Circulating water will not freeze (generally). If I do this, will the nipples freeze anyway?
2) If I put a heater in the resevoir and circulate the water, will the nipples freeze?
3) I've seen posts the recommend using heat tape on the pvc pipes. Will the pipes take the heat and will the chickens peck the tape and fry themselves? Will this keep the nipples from freezing?
4) Should I forget nipple waterers in the winter and use a "standard" waterer?
5) Is there anyone here with some real world, working knowledge of this?
Thanks for the help!
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