I built this super-simple, auto-fill, gravity-feed, chicken waterer for my new chicken coop. My waterer required a reservoir due to using untreated irrigation water, which sometimes will get turned off daily during maintenance periods. Luckily I don't have to deal with freezing in my region.
Total cost I'm estimating roughly $60 as I already had a lot of the parts on-hand. Also since some parts are multi-packs there are leftover parts for future repairs and/or additional waterers.
PARTS:
- 5-gal water cooler jug (free) Alternative could be a 5-gal bucket, with a bulkhead fitting output.
Amazon:
- Auto-fill water trough float valves (Amazon link)
- Float-type chicken waterers (Not these exact ones, but similar to: Amazon link)
- PVC Tee fittings for chicken waterers, 1/2" slip x 1/2" slip x 1/8" FPT (Amazon link)
Home depot:
- Flexible PVC coupling, 2"x1-1/2" (to adapt cooler jug to PVC)
- PVC reducer, 1-1/2" slip x 1/2" female threaded
- Irrigation barb fittings: 1/2" barb x 1/2" male threaded
- Irrigation fitting: 3/4" garden hose to 1/2" compression swivel adapter
- 1/2" PVC fittings: 90 deg elbow, 45 elbow, Tee, end cap
- 1/2" PVC pipe
- 1/2" irrigation hose
- 1/2" PVC ball valve (for cleanout/flushing/draining)
- 1/2" stainless hose clamps
- Misc: PVC glue, wood, screws, drill bit, hole saw, teflon thread tape, galvanized plumber's tape
BUILD:
Reservoir Tank:
5-gal water jug is my reservoir, with an auto-fill float valve inside to maintain water level. It adapts to irrigation hose to supply water to my waterers.
First I installed the float valve through the side of the water jug: I used a 4" hole saw to make a hole big enough to stick my hand through the flat bottom (now top) - the "plug" will end up being used as a lid for the hole (not shown in article). I used a spade bit to drill a hole in the side and installed the float valve. Irrigation 1/2" barb threads onto the float valve; then length of 1/2" irrigation hose; then used irrigation adapter fitting to connect to garden hose thread pattern (3/4"" garden hose to 1/2" compression swivel adapter)
Jug to PVC:
The flexible PVC coupling adapts the water jug to the 1-1/2" PVC reducer. The reducer I chose accepts the male threaded 1/2" barb irrigation fitting for my irrigation hose to supply the waterers.
Waterer manifold:
This is the "output" of the waterer where the chickens drink. The shape can be customized to basically any shape and even located further away from the reservoir, so long as it's "downhill" as it's gravity-fed, duh.
I mocked up all my PVC fittings and waterer parts to make the main body of the waterer manifold, then glued it all up. Optional: I chose to add a ball valve on the end, so that I could flush/drain the system for cleaning.
Install:
First I mocked up where I wanted the reservoir to go in my coop - up high in the corner for bracing and so a chicken can't perch on top. Next I took some scraps of pressure treated 2x4s to make a simple collar that the jug's funnel would sit inside, to support the reservoir from below - I then securely anchored this to the wall. For the top, I simply strapped it in place. Was going to use galvanized plumber's tape but had a better-looking piece of scrap metal for this.
I installed a 2x4 brace for the PVC waterer manifold, then attached the PVC to it via plumber's tape. Next I installed the 1/2" irrigation hose with hose clamps. Next the garden hose got hooked up, then pressure tested - success!
Note: I've got a slight leak on the supply 1/2" barb fitting going to my float valve. I've had these type of plastic irrigation barb fittings leak on past projects and this one was no exception, even with a hose clamp installed. I may end up finding some irrigation slip adapters to replace the barb fittings with, because those somehow don't leak under pressure.
