Yet another water freezing question

[odysseychicken]

I have a large double pane window in the coop I am building. It will get a lot of afternoon sun. If I make a waterer using black PVC with three nipples on it and mount it so that it is in the window do you think it will keep my water from freezing? This is my first foray into chickens. Will the water get too hot? Will it grow algae? Will the nipples still freeze as they will be exposed to the air?

Just so there is no concern, the windows come out in the spring and summer and are just open with hardware cloth. I would also use a different waterer in a different location in the warm months.

So, is this passive system worth a try? I could also encase the waterer in three inches of foam if it is a better solution.

Thanks for any input.


Edit: I also understand that cloudy days do nothing for me as far as solar goes.

 

[MeepBeep]

No it will not keep it from freezing, especially overnight or on cold days... The best you could realistically expect is for it to stay liquid a little longer after you fill it...

 

[RonP]

Well...you didn't mention how cold you expect your night time temperatures will be?

I have a large double pane window in the coop I am building. It will get a lot of afternoon sun. If I make a waterer using black PVC with three nipples on it and mount it so that it is in the window do you think it will keep my water from freezing? This is my first foray into chickens.

Will the water get too hot?
Probably not.

Will it grow algae?
Not likely, probably still frozen.

Will the nipples still freeze as they will be exposed to the air?
Probably

Just so there is no concern, the windows come out in the spring and summer and are just open with hardware cloth. I would also use a different waterer in a different location in the warm months.

So, is this passive system worth a try?
Probably not, but if you do, please record and share your results

I could also encase the waterer in three inches of foam if it is a better solution.
Only if you add hot water, the foam will also prevent the solar heat from warming it.

Thanks for any input.


Edit: I also understand that cloudy days do nothing for me as far as solar goes.

In sub freezing night time temps, your water will freeze solid. The birds need and want to drink as soon as they wake up.
It could take many hours under the best conditions to thaw a solid block of ice. A solar heater probably won't even start to be effective till mid day.

 

[odysseychicken]

Sorry. I meant to say that I live in CT. Nights are quite often below freezing and can go below zero on occasion. However, I am not trying to keep water from freezing overnight. Just during the day. I assume chickens do not drink while they are sleeping.

 

[MeepBeep]

However, I am not trying to keep water from freezing overnight.  Just during the day.  I assume chickens do not drink while they are sleeping.

Do you plan to go out every night and empty the water dish and refill it in the morning before they wake?

As eluded to in an earlier post, the solar 'heat' in the winter really won't do much to heat water but for a few hours during the peak sun hours, and I doubt your explained heat trap idea will actually catch enough thermal heat to do much except on the most mild near 32° days...

 

[Folly's place]

I'd add that chickens will eat the foam insulation, not a good thing. Either plan to get out there every morning at dawn with fresh water, and twice more during the day, or invest in a heated waterer or heated base. Mary

 

[odysseychicken]

Thanks all,

This is the answer I sort of figured I would get. I guess I will just be changing the water a couple times a day. It's no big deal. I was just trying to come up with a plan for days when I will be gone all day. It may be hard for me to get their water changed mid day. I will have to think on this a bit.

 

[RonP]

Is it possible to get electricity to the coop?