New Chicken Waterer Design: Insulated Bucket. Yay or Nay?

[LittleRedCoop]

Good evening!

In my Engineering class, students were given the challenge to design a product that is innovative--a product that will improve the way we do things. My first thought went straight to my chickens, and how their water freezes so fast this time of year. I live in rural New England, and my chickens drink from a small bucket.

Here's the problem:

I, along with my friends that have chickens, do not have access to electricity in my coop. Therefore, I cannot simply plug in a heated water bucket to keep the water from freezing.

I am working on a waterer design that will keep water in a liquid state for a longer period of time than usual. My plan? Take two buckets, one larger than the other. Line the inside of the larger bucket with some form of insulation (ie, the kind between walls, or a spray foam), and set the smaller bucket inside the larger one. This would create a barrier for the smaller bucket from the cold floor of the coop.

My idea is similar to the insulated water bucket holders that are often found in horse stalls that are quoted to prevent water from freezing in low temperatures.

Here's the question:

If such a product existed on the market, do you think it would work, and would you buy it?

Thank you so much!!! Part of this assignment involves a survey--if you could respond to the poll and/or type a response in this thread, that would be fantasic

 

[mollycat79]

Would be great for cold water in hot summers

 

[LittleRedCoop]

Would be great for cold water in hot summers

Yes--I hadn't even considered that. Thank you!!

 

[redsoxs]

There are a few variables, of course, but I think it could work. Hope you can market it and make it a success!

 

[LittleRedCoop]

There are a few variables, of course, but I think it could work.  Hope you can market it and make it a success! 

 

Thank you for your support!

 

[sparrker]

Will the chickens have to drink from nipples or will it be a rim of water around the edges? If there is a rim of water that could freeze. I don't know much about nipple waterers. Mine freezes around the rim first. Super idea though.

 

[FinelyFeathered]

anybody try the nipple watering system? i like the idea of the insulated bucket! thinkin of using it along with the nipple watering system any ideas on that and making it work?

 

[LittleRedCoop]

Will the chickens have to drink from nipples or will it be a rim of water around the edges? If there is a rim of water that could freeze. I don't know much about nipple waterers. Mine freezes around the rim first. Super idea though.

I'm thinking of using the Fortiflex buckets, you know, the little 2 gal buckets. I have one that I'm using now. It does freeze fast...I've never had a nipple waterer before, what would be the benefit? Wouldn't the nipple part freeze?

 

[Going Quackers]

Basically your thinking of a thermos lol I think it could be useful that said i would wonder how low could the temp go before an issue of freezing came about and second how the chickens would get to the water? My chickens use a small heated dog bowl, i cannot imagine a larger bucket, i am VERY familiar with them though, as i use them for the ducks but a much bigger bird and one that requires to dunk it's head.

There is a product in the horse world(although could be used by other livestock) that was basically a wrap for a bucket, like a sleeve to reduce freezing, not sure if it still exists.. they hit my farm supply last year but i have yet to see them again, i gather they brought forth minimal change for the price they cost.

ETA; found it! guess it still exists, as i said my farm supply chose not to bring it in this winter, i have no idea why but they were pricey, i have a heated trough for my horses so the product never appealed to me anyways, besides i have mouthy horses who would likely rip it off

http://www.wildangelcozy.com/

 

[LittleRedCoop]

Basically your thinking of a thermos lol I think it could be useful that said i would wonder how low could the temp go before an issue of freezing came about and second how the chickens would get to the water? My chickens use a small heated dog bowl, i cannot imagine a larger bucket, i am VERY familiar with them though, as i use them for the ducks but a much bigger bird and one that requires to dunk it's head.

There is a product in the horse world(although could be used by other livestock) that was basically a wrap for a bucket, like a sleeve to reduce freezing, not sure if it still exists.. they hit my farm supply last year but i have yet to see them again, i gather they brought forth minimal change for the price they cost.

ETA; found it! guess it still exists, as i said my farm supply chose not to bring it in this winter, i have no idea why but they were pricey,  i have a heated trough for my horses so the product never appealed to me anyways, besides i have mouthy horses who would likely rip it off

http://www.wildangelcozy.com/

My chickens have no problem reaching the bucket to get a drink; of course they are good sized birds, my roo is pretty big. I used to have leghorns and even they didn't struggle to reach the water. They obviously can't reach the bottom of the bucket, but I always change their water before it gets past halfway
That cozy is along the lines of what I'm thinking, but I would put more insulation, especially on the bottom. I just checked my waterer today and there was a decent inch and a half or so of solid ice on the bottom of the pail.