Best way to water the flock?

[Colonel]

This shows the top of the water tower that I built to supply my chickens with water. You can see the whole series of photos showing how I built it at http://www.southernagrarian.com/a-water-tower-for-the-chickens/

Since our well water has such a high mineral content, anything that uses small metal valves will be ruined in a matter of months. This tower supplies the plastic drinker cups, and that works very well for this situation.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

im curious, why are ya'll building towers? is your waters up hill or something. the containment system does not need to be so high to work.

 

[Colonel]

Quote:
True, it does not need to be that high to work - as long as everything else is working well. I like to be able to flush out the lines every once in a while, and a bit more pressure helps that along. Part of it is simply over-engineering on my part, and I readily admit to that.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

Quote:
True, it does not need to be that high to work - as long as everything else is working well. I like to be able to flush out the lines every once in a while, and a bit more pressure helps that along. Part of it is simply over-engineering on my part, and I readily admit to that.

i see. thankyou.

 

[Dingersdad]

All the talk against running a garden hose down a fenceline and attaching to a float system in the coop befuddles me. You're not filling individual drink glasses with water directly from the hose, so the water being hot is irrelevant. If the float is positioned in a small vessel like a 5 gal bucket set into the ground or cut down for the desired height based on your breed, once a chicken drinks a small amount of water, a small amount of water is then allowed past the float valve and that HOT water then mixes with the much larger volume of tank water and is immediately cooled to a reasonable temp. It's not a problem for me here in Arkansas to run a 100' hose down my fenceline to a "stall waterer" with a float, sold for horses, that holds about 4 gals and the rim is about 12" high, perfect for my RIR flock. And no poopie contamination either!! Oh, and I like the aquarium water heater idea mentioned previously and will be trying that this winter, when I'll be using a more manual watering system.

 

[lfreem2]

Dinger, I think a few of us have way farther than 100 feet to go. If I could attach a simple 100 foot hose, I would do it, but I've got over 200' distance and would be crossing across the lawn from where my hose bib is. It just wouldn't work for me! The hose would heat up in the sun, etc.

So, some of us have barrels that can provide us with water in these instances. It's just NOT a one size fits all situation I guess you could say.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

before i run a hose 200 ft. above ground, exposed or even 100' . id dig a trench, and bury some PEX plumbing and run it from the house to where ever i had to go. thats what i did when i ran water out to my barn. i rented a ditch witch, dug a trench over 200' buried a 3/4 pex line and some under ground cable for electrical power in same trench. cable goes another 40 ft in the house to the panel box, pex is attached to the closes cold water copper line in the house.

water sitting in a rubber hose isnt the best water to be consuming.

 

[Sore Thumb Suburbanite]

Quote:
I installed the waterers with a 1/2" threaded pvc connection and all you have to do is wrap a little teflon tape around the pvc threads before you screw it in and you're pretty much set...no problems on the waterers end.

After first night in action i know I have to secure the bowls with brackets because they can still be moved by my malicious geese. I also need to adjust the water level on both bowls, I think the one inside should have a very low level so they don't have as much to play with; after the prep and original setting for their water level they still managed to dampen their bedding. They must have been drinking all night long.

My experience with these little giant waterers has been FANTASTIC, They are simple, the right size and very consistent. I highly reccomend them. I'm very happy with the watering system overall too.

How do you adjust the water level on these?

the little giant waterers have a nut inside the brass attachment that allows you to raise or lower tha water level using a spring that reacts with the water weight. I love this thing... I made the water level about 1 1/4 from the rim and it cuts down on waste.

I have yet to need to fill my drum! SOOOO EXCITED!


I built a tower because I wanted it to look like a mini town once I get my chickens (and build another matching coop) and I also wanted to keep as much off the ground, maximizing their space....
I can't use a hose, I only have once hose im my backyard and i have to water my HUGE garden every day in some parts... I use my hose all the time.

Hey Colonel.... your water tower is cooler than mine.... you can see the water inside and check the level visually... and the stand is pretty neat looking... I didn't want to spend any significant amount of time on mine really.... I think I should have though so it could look more like that.... Jealous...

 

[Colonel]

Quote:
Thanks! I have a stack of split cedar roofing that I will be adding to the sides to give it a more rustic look. My original idea was to make it look similar to the old windmill-supplied water tower on the farm where my dad was raised. That's one of those projects that just hasn't made it to the top of the priority list yet.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

if ya'll want to really do it up right. get you an old whiskey barrel...oak staves with iron type rings set it up vertical on your lil towers. get that old west rustic look.