Auto Waterer Set up

[jray]

I dear friend of mine gave me a 55 gallon plastic food grade drum this weekend. I was thinking of building a drum stand out side my coop and plumbing is a ball valve and reducing down to 1/4" tubing. My question is will this supply enuff pressure for an auto waterer? Does anyone out there have any experience in a set up like this? i think it should work.

 

[nightshade]

I don't have such a set up for my chickens but I know that a 55 gal drum will supply enough pressure to run a 100+ ft soaker hose if it is set 16 inches or more off the ground. I assum it woudl be the same principle. Hope this helps and let me know hoe it works

 

[nightshade]

 

[jray]

I'll let you know how it turns out in a couple of weeks.

 

[cookiesdaddy]

As I recall from physics, pressured is determined by height, not volume of water. On the other hand, your 1/4 tube may restrict water flow if your pressure isn't high enough.

Good luck and let us know how it works.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yep, pressure is determined by height and flow will be affected by a pile of parameters we don't need to think about at this hour of the night. Try it and see if it works. I worry about slime growing in the summer months with long term set up systems. I know my water buckets turn green in a few days in the summer and need a complete scrub down.

 

[MissPrissy]

I would be interested in knowing your results if you try it.

 

[VaM715]

If you get the barrel higher than the outlet at the waterer, gravity flow will work. It is all beased on "head" pressure of the water. The lower the water in the barrel, the lower the pressure or vice versa. You'll need about 4 foot of drop, or more, for the water flow. It would be better to use at least 1/2" tubing and reduce it at the nozzle inlet. The more flow you can get, the better. I've used this system in the past with my pigs and goats. The only problem I have encountered is when the water gets low the valves on the outlets tend to not close all the way due to lack of pressure. You end up with a constant seep. If you keep the barrel about 1/2 full things work good.

 

[jray]

The barrel is one of those blue food grade barrels. I need to decide which water system would work best with this set up. I would think that 20 chickens would drink quite a bit during the summer months and the changing water would keep the green stuff at bay. I was thinking of making the barrel stand 4' with a 1-2" fall.

 

[chickhamm]

you can also set up a auto water valve in the blue tube, that will help keep it filled at least halfway.


chickhamm
Theressa