A freeze-resistant watering nipple assembly comprising a watering nipple valve, a heat pipe, a sleeve in tight thermal contact with the nipple, a water-tight connection to a liquid containing container or supply pipe, and an outer shield enclosing an insulating space and/or insulation material is described, which thermally couples a watering nipple to a container or supply pipe via a sufficiently good thermal conduction path so that the nipple can be maintained at a temperature that is near the temperature of the liquid in the container or supply pipe. Further, the use of one or more freeze-resistant watering nipple assemblies with a thermally insulated container is described so that the unit comprising the nipple assembly or assemblies and the insulated container provides drinking water to animals, and in particular, birds in sub-freezing and in hot weather.
