Winterizing the Waterer

[lazy gardener]

I use a heated dog bowl, and set a gallon jug of water in the center to make a moat to keep the birds from walking in the water, and help to keep them from dipping their wattles. Heavy duty extension cord, GFCI at house, weather proof outlets at coop and house, GFCI/surge protector in coop.

 

[blackdog043]

I just realized, you have a vertical nipple waterer. They might freeze, even with the deicer, the horizontal nipples will not freeze.

 

[CapricornFarm]

It’s the hanging kind of bucket, with the nipples on the bottom, and the main part of the run is a thick layer of hay over concrete... no digging possible here.

So build a wooden box to put poop and bucket in.

 

[Folly's place]

It's nice in Virginia! Gets much colder in Michigan, and electricity is our friend! Heated water is the best way here, unless three trips out there to refill frozen waterers is possible. Mary

 

[KentuckyRooster]

I used to use a metal waterer on a heated base when mine lived outdoors, still do on the ones at my dad's house. Our winters get ugly here. Those have always done the trick for me.

 

[CapricornFarm]

It's nice in Virginia! Gets much colder in Michigan, and electricity is our friend! Heated water is the best way here, unless three trips out there to refill frozen waterers is possible. Mary

Hey Mary, That is why i don't live in Michigan! I wonder how well the poop box works. I am also going to try to develop a solar water warmer for the birds.

 

[Folly's place]

X2! Heated bases with metal waterers. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Lower Michigan; milder than Wisconsin or way 'up north' No Hurricanes. No big earthquakes. No tsunamis. No horrible droughts and wildfires. No grizzlies or polar bears. Wonderful! Mary

 

[CapricornFarm]

Lower Michigan; milder than Wisconsin or way 'up north' No Hurricanes. No big earthquakes. No tsunamis. No horrible droughts and wildfires. No grizzlies or polar bears. Wonderful! Mary

Oh, well glad you like it. I did my stints in very cold and snowy in New York and Nova Scotia. Glad it is milder here!

 

[aart]

Did you read about heating the water with fresh poop? The person dug a hole much bigger than the bucket. Filled around the bucket with fresh horse or chicken manure, covered with sand. Filled bucket with water. Will not freeze due to heat generated by composting poop.

Might work in a milder climate, for a short time....but bet the birds would dig up that poop...ewww. Maybe you should test the theory for us?

It’s the hanging kind of bucket, with the nipples on the bottom, and the main part of the run is a thick layer of hay over concrete... no digging possible here.

Vertical nipples(the kind that go in bottom of bucket) are not likely to stay thawed even with an Aq heater, as the valve is outside the bucket.