I recently built two Catawba Converticoops and have an idea on how to get cleaner water for them with less maintenance for me. Here's a picture of the two coops:
After watching a video showing a vertical water system on a similar coop (seen here):
I decided that I didn't want to risk ruining the long side doors I'd worked so hard to build. It occurred to me that I could cut a
4 1/8" hole in the floor of the nest box opposite the drop down ramp for the hens and install a 6" length of 4" PVC pipe, capped with a slip cap where I would add the water. I would then get under the coop and attach a 90-Degree angle piece of 4" PVC pipe, attach that to a 5' length of the pipe, with another end cap (glued for security), a length of galvanized cable looped to hang the whole contraption from an eye hook strongly attached to the underside of the coop floor. Prior to hanging it, I would have installed poultry nipples from the bottom of the pipe.
The pipe should be about 6" from the bottom of the coop floor, which means it hangs about 18" above the ground, a level that seems about right for full-sized hens.
Here's a picture of the drawing I did to illustrate for myself (sorry, I'm no artist, but you get the idea I hope)
I've never seen anything like this done before which leads me to believe there's some major flaw in my thinking. If so, could someone please tell me what I'm missing. I'd be very grateful. Otherwise I'm going to try to build this tomorrow. Thank you in advance!!
After watching a video showing a vertical water system on a similar coop (seen here):
I decided that I didn't want to risk ruining the long side doors I'd worked so hard to build. It occurred to me that I could cut a
4 1/8" hole in the floor of the nest box opposite the drop down ramp for the hens and install a 6" length of 4" PVC pipe, capped with a slip cap where I would add the water. I would then get under the coop and attach a 90-Degree angle piece of 4" PVC pipe, attach that to a 5' length of the pipe, with another end cap (glued for security), a length of galvanized cable looped to hang the whole contraption from an eye hook strongly attached to the underside of the coop floor. Prior to hanging it, I would have installed poultry nipples from the bottom of the pipe.
The pipe should be about 6" from the bottom of the coop floor, which means it hangs about 18" above the ground, a level that seems about right for full-sized hens.
Here's a picture of the drawing I did to illustrate for myself (sorry, I'm no artist, but you get the idea I hope)
I've never seen anything like this done before which leads me to believe there's some major flaw in my thinking. If so, could someone please tell me what I'm missing. I'd be very grateful. Otherwise I'm going to try to build this tomorrow. Thank you in advance!!
