Plasson Brolier Drinker: Add Antifreeze to the Ballast Bottle?

[BackyardZen]

Hello Community!

We have 8 hens in a chicken tractor here in Long Island, NY. We use the Plasson Broiler Drinker. According to the instructions, we are to add antifreeze to the ballast bottle. Since starting with the hens in March of this year, we have used water in the ballast bottle. Now that it is getting cold, we want to follow the instructions so that the ballast bottle does not crack from the freezing water. The ballast bottle acts independently of the bell and regulates the valve mechanism as to how much water should be let into the bell drinker from the bucket positioned above it.

• Has anyone used the Plasson Broiler Drinker? Have you added antifreeze?
• While the ballast bottle is strong plastic and is sealed with the screw cap, have you ever experiencing any leaking and birds getting sick?
• Do you use antifreeze/coolant? If so, which brand has worked for you?
• Has anyone tried to use just windshield wiper fluid that has anti-freezing capabilities?

Plasson-Broiler-Drinker

• BackyardZen
• Nov 23, 2019

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Timothy Menezes]

I thought antifreeze was a poison. Be careful.

 

[2 many chickens]

I've never heard of this. Are you suppose to mix the antifreeze into their drinking water? How is that safe? I've always thought that was toxic. I would just buy a heated waterer than that.

 

[BackyardZen]

I've never heard of this. Are you suppose to mix the antifreeze into their drinking water? How is that safe? I've always thought that was toxic. I would just buy a heated waterer than that.

I updated the original post with an image of the system. The ballast bottle is a sealed object that the chickens don't have access to. The water sits in the red part which is the bell drinker. The antifreeze is definitely not added to their drinking water.

I do have a heated waterer for these winter months for when it drops below freezing. For non-freezing days, the bell waterer system works great for me; I just don't want the ballast bottle to freeze and crack.

 

[Timothy Menezes]

If this ballast water doesn't mix with the drinking water then I don't suppose it matters what you put in it. Maybe even just fill with sand.

 

[Folly's place]

I wouldn't rely on that container with antifreeze holding up and never cracking. just don't do it! Use a heated base or something, with at least a GFI outlet, and be safer.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I don't understand what the antifreeze is supposed to do here. It won't freeze, but the water will regardless, as the temperature drops. Then it will swell, maybe breaking that antifreeze container, or at least having the birds trying to drink ice.
Mary

 

[Ratchnick]

Car antifreeze is etheline glycol and is toxic, you could get propylene glycol which is used in hot water baseboard heating and is non toxic. Any plumbing or boiler specialty store would have it. Also you could fill it with salt water, get the water almost boiling and keep adding salt until no more will desolve into the water, this solution will freeze at about 0F so if you get much colder that won't work.

 

[Folly's place]

Propylene glycol is safer than 'conventional' antifreeze, but not exactly non-toxic either.
Mary

 

[AllenK RGV]

Is the water drinker itself heated and recirculates warm fluids to prevent freezing?

If so I would use another safer alternative like saltwater or an alcohol type blend, but I imagine you have more extreme winter temps than I have.