Automatic watering suggestions

seems like a lot of work, are you trying to create an auto watering system on the cheap or because you don't have any water piped to the coop? if you can run an irrigation line to the coop I suggest just purchasing a little giant automatic waterer they work great and you never have to worry about watering again. my local feed stores carried them and you can see the item here

http://www.hotshotproducts.com/page/1/Product-Detail.jsp?groupId=306&prodId=44188

 

I have the same issue..... no water at the site but needed to make a water system that would not require me to carry it to the area.

I went with the Little Giant automatic waterer and connected it to a rain barrel (via pvc pipe). Works great.

 

I too would like to know how that fountain works. Does it run water continuously? Or does it somehow sense when the level is low and it turns the water on.... If I were to hook a hose up to it, the water might be staying in the hose too long if it goes on intermittently. And if it is continuous, that seems like it would create a mudhole. How does it work?

 

5 gallon bucket with livestock water trough float installed. Total cost 12 bucks.

 

The Little Giant does NOT run water continuously. It will fill up to a specified level (that you adjust).

It has a valve that allows you to adjust the water level in the small water bowl. As the water is being used, it will drip more water into the bowl.

The water connection comes in from the top of the brass valve. The water level adjustment is at the bottom of the valve. This adjustment has two nuts- one is to determine the level of the water to be in the water bowl; the second one is to lock the other one in place.

After connecting the Little Giant to your water supply (hose or rain barrel in my case), turn the water on (rain barrel is done by gravity). The water level will slowly rise to a pre-set level. If the water level is too high or low for your liking, then you make an adjustment to the valve. It may take a couple of adjustments, but once the water level is where you want it, it's over and done with. When you make adjustments to the vlave, you do not have to turn off the water supply. You disconnect the bowl from the valve and make your adjustments to the valve. You replace the water bowl and the water level will adjust to where you have set it to be.

My rain barrel system has a one / off valve at the rain barrel. The barrel is about 40 feet from the Little Giant and is set higher than the level of the Little Giant. THe valve on the rain barrel is left open and gravity feeds the water down to the Little Giant. The water level has been adjusted to where I wanted it to be and it never overflows.

I bought the Little Giant automatic waterer, (new) off of ebay. The cost was at $20 + $9 to ship.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Little-Giant-25...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35a7116b79

Hope this helps.

 

Here is the waterer I made for the contest. It uses a toilet bowl float and a 5 gallon bucket... and with directions.

Good luck!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=45485

 

Since so many seem to be using the Little Giant automatic bowls, maybe someone can help me out a little...

I have one of these and have been trying for days to get it to work, but no matter what I do, I can't get it to fill up. I initially tried a gravity system from a 7 gallon tank, no luck. Even if I took the bowl of and opened the schrader valve with my finger, nothing came out. So I broke out a pump that puts out 55 PSI, still no luck...it did fill a little, but very slow, and again I took the bowl off and opened it with my finger, and there was hardly any water coming out. Hooked it up to a garden hose, same issue, very little water, and the bowl never didn't fill up (or maybe I wasn't patient enough). This happened regardless of how I moved the two adjustment nuts. I've tried 3 different schrader valves.

My question is, are my expectations too high? Do these things fill at such a low rate that it should take 30 to 45 minutes for the bowl to fill?

I saw a video on McMurray's website that seems to indicated differently.

I contacted the place I bought them from who referred me to Miller Manufacturing. They were...let's just say less than helpful. So I'm hoping someone that has some actual experience with them can help me out...

Much appreciated,

Scott