Winterizing the Waterer

[OG Anomaly]

Well i do deep litter so it is hard to sort out from the shavings. Garden center poop is composted already so no heat generated.

How long have you been using the deep litter method and how do you winterize yours?
If you don't mind me asking, haha
This will be our first winter doing it and I'm just curious
Thanks

 

[OG Anomaly]

I'm a first year chicken owner & was looking into the same deal...aquarium heater vs deicer, etc. and came across a 3G heated waterer for about $40 delivered. I don't have a link, but I bought it online from State Line Tack. They were having a 1st time buyer sale of 25% off. If interested, search "Farm Innovators Heated Poultry Fountain" on their site.
Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[Cluckies]

@OG Anomaly , I used this waterer for a few weeks my first winter, be careful, the top of mine came off of the base in the run, water everywhere, I was scooping freezing water and dirt out of my run with my bare hands before it froze, of course it was below zero out.

 

[PingoBags]

Horizontal nipples on a plastic bucket that is wrapped with a heat tape (and insulated if necessary, but be careful because you can get it too hot) is the best (and cheapest) solution from my limited experience.

That method didn't work for me last year. I had vertical nipples so it was doomed to fail from the start. But even with the tape from top to bottom and 4" of insulation, the water in the bucket would still start to freeze when it got cold enough. Eventually the tape got overworked and died. I scrapped the idea since its hard to service. Trying a light bulb this year, if that dies, it can be easily replaced.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

That method didn't work for me last year. I had vertical nipples so it was doomed to fail from the start. But even with the tape from top to bottom and 4" of insulation, the water in the bucket would still start to freeze when it got cold enough. Eventually the tape got overworked and died. I scrapped the idea since its hard to service. Trying a light bulb this year, if that dies, it can be easily replaced.

Yeah that method might be a bit wimpy for Canada.

 

[OG Anomaly]

@OG Anomaly ,
I used this waterer for a few weeks my first winter, be careful, the top of mine came off of the base in the run, water everywhere, I was scooping freezing water and dirt out of my run with my bare hands before it froze, of course it was below zero out.

Oh no! Thank you, I'll watch out for that!
You know, I almost made an update to that post, after I recv'd it, because I wasn't impressed with the quality, lol. I also didn't realize it was filled from the bottom and didn't know about having to try & keep wattles & combs out of the water, when I bought it.
So far it has been working well, but we already have plans for something different next year and I wouldn't recommend this to anybody.

 

[CapricornFarm]

How long have you been using the deep litter method and how do you winterize yours?
If you don't mind me asking, haha
This will be our first winter doing it and I'm just curious
Thanks

I just keep adding shavings periodically, and the chickens dig it up and turn it. As for winterizing, i do put tarps up on the north side of the runs to block wind. I am putting a few bales of straw on the outside of the run to block wind as . I added some ventilation to the coops to help prevent frostbite and i am trying to build a solar powered water heater with poo powered back up!

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

This is what I use in the coop, then I have a heated dog water bowl out in the run. Heat tape for PVC with fiberglass insulation wraps and all taped up with electrical tape. Worked well last year, but we had a very mild winter. I only plug it in if I see the nipples are freezing up.

 

[aart]

This is what I use in the coop, then I have a heated dog water bowl out in the run. Heat tape for PVC with fiberglass insulation wraps and all taped up with electrical tape. Worked well last year, but we had a very mild winter. I only plug it in if I see the nipples are freezing up.

Is that a pool noodle used as insulation?
Do they peck at the foam?
What is your location?

 

[WhiteRockCrazyBird]

Is that a pool noodle used as insulation?
Do they peck at the foam?
What is your location?

Those are pipe insulators that you buy to go around plumbing, I scored the inside to make them fan out wide enough for the pvc pipe. The heat tape instructions insist on it being used over the heat tape. We live in central Illinois. The chickens have never bothered to peck at it.