Best way to water the flock?

[Colonel]

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I actually checked into that, but quickly rejected the idea.
1) The objective is to keep the water clean, and whiskey barrels were designed for single use - they are virtually impossible to clean.
2) They are designed to be used inside - they are not going to hold up under sun and rain and rot and insects.
3) They are "decorator chic" and the prices reflect that.

I had thought about getting one and using a sprayer tank inside, with the barrel just there to keep the sun off of it and provide a nice rustic look, but that wasn't worth the expense and the hassle.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with what I have, and if I were to do it all over again, I'd pretty much duplicate this same system.

 

[MyChickenWishList]

The half whiskey barrels last forever

I have three in my yard that I plant in...I have had two of them for at least 5-6 years and the other about 2 years. They look like I just bought them. No rot, very sturdy and I love the rustic look!

Just thought I`d throw this in there for those wanting to use whiskey barrels for yard projects. I would definitly put a bug proof container for water on the inside...but think the barrel would look great.

 

[Colonel]

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Thanks for the info! I based my criticism of them on seeing them in use down here in Florida. The bugs and humidity and sun are pretty tough on untreated wood. It could be that up where you live untreated wood lasts longer. The half-barrels are popular here as planters, but the ones I've seen are in pretty rough shape after a few years outside.

My apologies to all for over generalizing based only on what I've seen locally.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

yes. they are oak after all, and it lasts A LOOOOONG time. and some preservative could be put on it every couple yrs if you were worried about it. in big cities they still use wood water tanks on top of buildings. i watched a special on history channel about these and watched a crew build one. its the same material and process as the barrels. the one they replaced was from early 1900's and the wood was still good, but there was evidence of decay

id be more concerned about what letches outa the plastic containers than i would the used oak barrel. but truthfully neither would personally worry me, a chicken will drink happily outa a pool of p-ss and walk away smiling. LOL.

but as long as your happy, thats what matters. you are right about the cost of them things. they are pricey.

 

[kittykatt]

I was getting tired of going in our coop every other day to check the water and refill it. I had an idea to punch a small hole in our water feeder and add a 1/2 gallon an hour drip line to it. It works great!

Also I learned today how to keep my feathered friends from hanging out on my patio. They must not like to get wet, because I turned my misters on and they stay clear. I love not having poop all over my patio. Going on 7 hours now with no poop.

 

[DickGJ]

Just wanted to give an update to my previous posts on this subject. I bought a 50 gallon rain barrel with a faucet in the bottom and set up a gravity feed system for the chickens using the nipple system with a 4ft length of PVC Pipe. Like a few others mentioned here...even though the birds learned quickly to drink from it, the nipples leaked constantly and even though this system is out in the run...it drove me nuts. The primary reason for my discontent was that we've been experiencing 90-100 degree temps here in Sumter, SC for the past 3 weeks with no reprieve. Even though there was water dripping from the nipples and the birds were using it...I decided to fill the 2-gallon galvenized waterers for them just so that had a way of getting the "mouthful" they were use to getting before I put in the nipple system. Heck, when I placed that 2-gallon waterer in the run after filling it...I thought I was going to be attacked like the Hitchcock movie "The Birds!" Those chickens began drinking before I placed the waterer on it's little platform. I think all 16 of my birds surrounded that thing and drank with delight! All this while the nipples dripped like a sieve. The water supply is super fresh in that nipple system so it's not a case of bad water (or HOT water since I have the barrel completely shaded).

All that said, I decided to change my gravity feed system to the Little Giant 2500. Finally swapped out the system yesterday and let me tell you...THAT IS ONE GREAT SYSTEM! It took a little while to adjust the auto shut off so it didn't over run the bowl...but once I got that squared away, it works like a charm. No more water leaking in the run, and the birds can dip their beaks in the bowl and toss that water back like beer drinking champs! Based on my experience while using a 50/60 gallon rain barrel (which has too much pressure for the nipple system)...I wasted my money on 10 nipples, PVC pipe, fittings, and my valuable time. If anyone plans on using a similar water source as mine...forget the nipple system! Go with the Little Giant or possibly those little cup systems which I hear work quite well. That the end of my consumer testing and report! Thank you!

 

[Colonel]

Great review, Dick! I had used one of those Little Giant systems also, and it worked great. Unfortunately, our water has a high mineral content so it didn't take long at all for the valves to stop working. I bought a bag full of replacements because I loved that system and really wanted it to work, but eventually, the rest of the system got mineral deposits on it and it wouldn't slide up and down freely enough to work properly.

My own opinion - if you have good mineral-free water, you can't beat it. If you're stuck with water like we have, then it's not a good long-term solution.

 

[DickGJ]

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Very good point! I never thought about how easily mineral deposits could affect this particular system. What did you have to resort to...a standard waterer? I suppose water with high mineral content would jack up a nipple system rather quickly too! Bummer!

 

[Colonel]

I ended up building an admittedly over-engineered gravity feed system that supplies cups to each of the chicken coops. Here's a page with photos of the system being built - http://www.southernagrarian.com/a-water-tower-for-the-chickens/ . I have been very pleased with it. It's very flexible, very clean, and I don't have to do anything to it other than fill it up every couple of weeks.

One change that I made on it is that I added a gate valve at the very end of the main supply line. That way, when it is time to change the water, I just open that valve and it flushes out the entire system. It's high up enough that there is plenty enough water pressure to give a good cleansing flow.

 

[DickGJ]

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BRAVO and nicely done!