Chicken Nipples

[canesisters]

Monty, I use a bird bath heater in the winter. Worked like a charm.
I'm thinking that next winter I might try dropping it into a bucket with nipples on the bottom. Having the heat source in the bottom of the bucket should keep them from freezing, don't you think?

 

[MontyJ]

I think birdbath heaters are the best idea yet Cane. I didn't even think of that. Most stock tank heaters float and are of a higher wattage (1000-1500 watts) than a bucket waterer would probably need. A birdbath heater placed at the bottom should work well. I don't know much about them so I'm going to do some investigating.

 

[Jared77]

A bird bath heater would be great if you were using say a 5 gallon bucket. Thats what I'd use. The big failure on aquarium heaters is they are typically covered glass and if the water drops too far down, the glass heats up. Water gets splashed, and the glass breaks, exposing the heating wires to the water which is now charged from the electricity.

I got a good zap from an aquarium heater years back and I ALWAYS unplug mine now since then. They do make glass-less heaters which would help. The standard recommdation for an aquarium heater is 3-5 watts/gallon. So even a 25 watt heater is going to be plenty for a 5 gallon bucket. You'd have to remember to check it when you went out to feed in the winter, but I think it could safely be used.

I still like the bird bath heater with a 5 gallon bucket. Its safer, and lower wattage. Id drop that inside the bucket and be done with it. I bet the warm water inside the bucket would keep the water inside the nipple from freezing up. That warm water may even keep the nipple warm enough to keep from freezing too. Hard to say but its worth a try.

Id get a lid for the bucket, make a notch for the wire to come out and plug it in. The cover will help retain heat too so its not being lost out the top from wind blowing over the warm water (just like we blow on the surface of hot liquids to cool them to eat).

Keep us posted Monty.

 

[MontyJ]

I know what you mean Jared. It was the exploding heater that I got to thinking about. I have had that happen. After the first time I installed a GFI outlet for the aquarium. When I start heating chicken water, it will also be on a GFI. Being an electrician, you would think I would know better

 

[Jared77]

GFI why didn't I think of that? Don't feel bad I missed that too

 

[897tgigvib]

Ground Fault Interruption circuit outlets. Great invention!

 

[baymule]

I love this place. I put out the idea of chicken nipples and ya'll further expound on how to make improvements. Everybody learns a better way to do things. Everybody wins.

 

[897tgigvib]

I still got to get that photoshop though...