Chicken Nipples

[KettermanHillCoop]

I made a new vertical nipple water bucket today.

Installed 3 vertical nipples in a new bucket.
View attachment 1223564

Cut a piece of foam to fit the bucket and cut some slits for the nipples.
View attachment 1223565

Cut the bottom from another bucket and drilled some matching holes for the nipples.
View attachment 1223566

Switched from a floating stock tank heater to a Farm Innovations submersible 250 watt heater. I'm hoping putting the heat near the nipples will make a difference.
View attachment 1223567

Added a cardboard box over the top just for fun... doubt is does much more than keep the bucket clean lol. Taking inspiration from @aart I added a roost guard over the bucket. I plan on moving it closer to the wall when this arctic weather passes.
View attachment 1223568

JT

JT, are you using two buckets? I'm a little confused...

 

[jthornton]

JT, are you using two buckets? I'm a little confused...

I cut about 3" from the bottom of a second bucket and put that over the foam insulation. So yes it takes two buckets. If you look close at the third photo you can see the second bucket.

JT

 

[PingoBags]

Why? It's the same material as the white

No idea. I just assumed because the white ones had food grade written on them and the orange ones didn't.

White bucket
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.19l5-gallon---white-food-approved-bucket.1000784675.html

 

[aart]

No idea. I just assumed because the white ones had food grade written on them and the orange ones didn't.

That would tell the tale!

Why? It's the same material as the white

Except for the pigment....which could make the difference.
Pigments could be graded also.
Could be different manufacturing process and equipment too.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Probably just means the orange buckets haven't been validated with the FDA, and there would be no reason to. If it says this on the bottom I'll use it.

 

[koopmaster]

I made a new vertical nipple water bucket today.

Installed 3 vertical nipples in a new bucket.
View attachment 1223564

Cut a piece of foam to fit the bucket and cut some slits for the nipples.
View attachment 1223565

Cut the bottom from another bucket and drilled some matching holes for the nipples.
View attachment 1223566

Switched from a floating stock tank heater to a Farm Innovations submersible 250 watt heater. I'm hoping putting the heat near the nipples will make a difference.
View attachment 1223567

Added a cardboard box over the top just for fun... doubt is does much more than keep the bucket clean lol. Taking inspiration from @aart I added a roost guard over the bucket. I plan on moving it closer to the wall when this arctic weather passes.
View attachment 1223568

JT

I saw something like that online, where someone did that. Except, I believe they used heat tape around the inner bucket?
I like your idea!
Is that submersible heater gonna melt thru the plastic tank?
Great idea

 

[Lelilamom]

I believe the white ones are, orange ones aren't.

Correct. I purchased white food grade buckets.

 

[jthornton]

I saw something like that online, where someone did that. Except, I believe they used heat tape around the inner bucket?
I like your idea!
Is that submersible heater gonna melt thru the plastic tank?
Great idea

No, it's rated for a plastic bucket. It's a farm innovations heater. Worked down to 1°F so I'm a happy chicken.

JT

 

[koopmaster]

Yeah, I must go a different route! My heat tape insulated bucket worked to keep the water in bucket thawed, BUT. -9°F froze the nipples and little nipple cups, to the point where the heat from my fingers wouldn't thaw them

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Yeah, I must go a different route! My heat tape insulated bucket worked to keep the water in bucket thawed, BUT. -9°F froze the nipples and little nipple cups, to the point where the heat from my fingers wouldn't thaw them

Before you give up, readjust the lower tape to fit right underneath each nipple. In other words, twist the tape to fit flat against the bottom of each nipple. Also, you could try a longer heat tape with more wraps towards the bottom. I once wrapped a hose feeding my RV, and had so many wraps (plus insulation) that it burned the hose.