Watering System for Chickens

[gottfried8010]

I'm trying to setup a new watering system for my chickens. The goal is to circulate the water through a solar water heater to keep it from freezing during the winter. I live in Georgia so the winters are not terribly cold but it does get cold enough to freeze at times. I plan to have insulated water tank and lines and circulate that water through a solar water heater. The water can't be too hot because the chickens need to drink it. 50 degrees or so would be ok. So im thinking i need to run a small pump and use a 3 way solenoid valve to change the flow of the water when it begins to get too warm. will need a temperature controller to switch the valve. I'll post links to components i'm thinking of using. Would like help determining how big a solar heater i need to build and what size solar panel and battery i would need to run these items. I'm new to solar so any help is appreciated.

Pump:

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00DWORE5A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2BEZYTHXK96OC&coliid=I1Q12U0KIP53J3&psc=1

Temperature Controller:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OXPE8U6/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p328_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=134A6AN5TSEP3XMNYNJE&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

Switch:

http://smile.amazon.com/250mA-Position-Pneumatic-Electromagnetic-Solenoid/dp/B00A15FUU4/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442714847&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=3+way+switch+solenoid+valve+12+volt

[inetdog]

Sounds like a good project and you are doing well to plan it out before starting.
You may find that you have to put in a largish tempering/heat storage tank and let it get very hot, then used a controlled flow through it to get the watering tank to the right temperature.
Remember that in winter you will be getting less heat from the thermal panels and over a shorter time.

[gottfried8010]

Thanks for your response. Another option i was considering was using a fish tank heater to keep the water above freezing. A 75 watt one should be sufficient but what size panel and battery is going to be needed to run it. Those heaters have a thermostat on them and would shut off at times. The one i posted the link for could be turned down to the lowest setting of 68 degrees.

Fish Tank Heater:

http://smile.amazon.com/Aquatop-Aquarium-Submersible-Heater-75-Watt/dp/B006MM2L16/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1443404943&sr=1-1&keywords=fish+tank+heater+75+watt

[Sunking]

First welcome to the Forum.

Your question got me thinking because as a kid and young man I spent a lot of time family farms/ranches and punched a few cows. I am also familiar with Georgia climate. As you stated freezing temps are are few and far between and short lived. I would think if the water feeder has sufficient quantity which means significant thermal mass, would take a fairly long time to freeze of a few days at or below hard freeze temps. Is that realistic where you are at.

I know as a kid in winter we broke ice for those rare times on Ponds or Tubs when frozen over. Inside a Chicken House gives you even more time.

[gottfried8010]

Thank You. The watering system wont be huge its just for ten chickens or so. The tank i plan to use is about 15 gallons and this will gravity feed chicken nipples. So the biggest concern isn't the holding tank really. It's more the smaller lines going to the nipples and the nipples themselves.

[foo1bar]

Thank You. The watering system wont be huge its just for ten chickens or so. The tank i plan to use is about 15 gallons and this will gravity feed chicken nipples. So the biggest concern isn't the holding tank really. It's more the smaller lines going to the nipples and the nipples themselves.

Will it be inside a coop that's fairly weather-tight?
Is the coop insulated?
Will you be running a light in the coop (to increase egg production during winter months)?

Even if the answer to the last is no, inside a coop where there isn't wind and there IS 10 chicken's body heat may be enough to keep the temps above freezing.
If the answer to the last one is yes - then the easy/cheap solution is to use the same extension cord that the light is hooked up to. (and the light will be putting some BTUs into the coop)