We were using those nipples in plastic water bottles but now they're all frozen so I guess we have to come up with some other method for winter. Too bad cuz they were so easy. My husband had rigged them up with tubes that we filled thru funnels. What do most of you who live where it freezes do for winter water? This is our first winter with chickens.
frozen water
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1048350/
Check out this link. It shows how a few of us have solved this problem with home made devices to keep the water from freezing.
In addition to the one my husband made for the chickens we've added a store bought heated dog water bowl for our barn kittens.
Gwen, I bought a base heater last winter. I found one that worked with my seven-gallon plastic waterer - most of them only work with metal, but I didn't have a large enough metal one. I got it from Stromberg's. I emailed them about whether it would work, and they answered:
"Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, you can use the #PPF5 on either the AEB or the EHB heater bases. Those heater bases will hold up to a 7 gal. fount, either metal or plastic."
I had originally picked up a waterer with a built in heater, and it was absolutely miserable. I was thrilled to have the other one when I finally bought it!