Winterizing Nipple Waterers? UPDATE Really? No One Knows?

[Marli's chicks]

I am going an entirely different way on this.

I am using Pex tubing and not PVC. That is what I'm told they use under mobile homes for human water supply needs in cold temperature locations. And the fittings won't pop off in the winter when they get brittle........like PVC can. I am hooking it up to a 55 gallon supply drum that we have fitted out with an energy efficient hot water heater element that runs on 110 volts. Meaning it can be hooked up to work on a standard electrical outlet ....

I'll wrap the drum with hot water heater insulation and place it where chickens can not get at it to pull it off. A standard hot water heater is 40 gallons so keeping a 55 gallon drum to lukewarm instead of 100 degree shower water should not be a problem at all. In fact, I am more worried water will be too warm for chickens, if that is possible. I am wrapping the lines out to the nipples with the foam pipe covering and then duct tape over that so it will be harder for them to pull off. There will be less than 2 inches exposed piping around each nipple and I just don't think I'll need to heat wrap around that area.

I am in an area where wind chills below zero are common in the winter. My local Ace Hardware store had everything I needed in stock and was able to walk me through how to hook everything up. I was really surprised how easy it is and not all that expensive.

 

[jeb251]

Quote:
I use heat tape on my 3/4" line and cover it with insulation and then completely tape it all, my supply tank is a 55 gallon drum inside an insulated box with 2 60 watt bulbs for heat, operated by a thermo cube that is inside the insulated box so it will read the temp where the tank is

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:

 

[ND]

I'd just be happy if my birds would DRINK out of the nipples...

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
If you don't give them a choice, they will.

 

[matimeo]

I have an update on this post about how nipples are working when cold. Temperatures dropped into the teens last night here, and the nipple under my bucket froze solid. As you can see I have about eight inches or so of PVC coming out the bottom of the bucket, so the chickens can reach it. I have a 250W bucket deicer in the bucket. It is keeping the water in the bucket at around 40 degrees, but the nipple froze- I broke the ice off the outside, but it still wouldn't move on the inside. I couldn't tell when I looked this morning how much ice there was in the PVC.

Bottom line is that if it is cold enough, the nipples in PVC will freeze if they are far enough from the reservoir, or if the water isn't significantly above freezing. I don't know how well they would do if they were inserted directly into the bottom of the bucket. I can imagine that when it is cold enough, they might still freeze, on the outside.

I may just put nipples directly into the bottom of a bucket and leave it outside the coop (run isn't big enough) and put the heater in that. Although, temperatures are warming up and it may not be an issue except during a month or so each year, and maybe I'll just provide fresh water during those times and continue to use current system the rest of the year.

 

[jmagill]

I have three bucket with the nipples directly in the bucket.

4 degrees today and they are working fine. I have a heater in each bucket.

 

[moetrout]

Quote:
Neil, what have you got for us? I want to do something soon. I have your water nipples and plan to put them in the bottom of a five gallon bucket with a heater in the bucket. Maybe something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-...2FJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290629673&sr=8-1

Anyone use this heater? I am going to hold off buying it now because Neil spoke up and says he has something in the works for us. I hope to hear something soon because if not I am going to go with my (unproven) plan.

Neil???

 

[matimeo]

Quote:
How warm does your heater keep the water?

 

[jmagill]

I use aquarium heaters that will heat as warm as 70-80 degrees. Most days when I put my hand into check the level it is not cold.


I am not sure what the temp is today but I may try to check when I get home. I do know that the chickens drink more water when it is warmer.