Building an "automated waterer"

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm doing pretty much the same thing.
I have a 55gallon drum for 5 breeder units using drinker cups.
That lasts about 4 months.


I have another 55 gallon supplying 2 different coops using a combination of horizontal nipples and drinker cups .

Originally the plan was to collect off the roof but I'm worried about debris making the water quality poor since all the coops are under huge trees.

 

[ClovisMan]

I'm doing pretty much the same thing.
I have a 55gallon drum for 5 breeder units using drinker cups.
That lasts about 4 months.


I have another 55 gallon supplying 2 different coops using a combination of horizontal nipples and drinker cups .

Originally the plan was to collect off the roof but I'm worried about debris making the water quality poor since all the coops are under huge trees.

I have no trees higher than the roof of my coop and it is a metal roof, so it should be okay. I hope. Plus we really don't get all that much rain anyway so I'm sure I will be filling with a hose more than anything anyway.

I had considered using the cups before I went to the nipples. I read reviews saying that they had to be washed a lot and replaced. How do you like them?

 

[Balloonjuice]

Clovis, my sole reason for rejecting the rain collection barrel idea in the first place was the age and composition of my coop's roof. I think composition shingles have been known to leach some pretty harmful chemicals into rain barrels.

However, if I am successful with my chickens this year, I have another area I hope to put a building with a metal roof and expand the flock considerably. That's where the rain barrel idea can come back into play.

Yes, you have to displace the air in the bucket in order to fill it and then you need the air pressure or you'll produce a vacuum in the bucket as the chickens drink. Thanks for the tips.

 

[ClovisMan]

Clovis, my sole reason for rejecting the rain collection barrel idea in the first place was the age and composition of my coop's roof. I think composition shingles have been known to leach some pretty harmful chemicals into rain barrels.

However, if I am successful with my chickens this year, I have another area I hope to put a building with a metal roof and expand the flock considerably. That's where the rain barrel idea can come back into play.

Yes, you have to displace the air in the bucket in order to fill it and then you need the air pressure or you'll produce a vacuum in the bucket as the chickens drink. Thanks for the tips.

You could just cut a one inch hole in the bucket lid and epoxy a piece of screen over it. It would allow the air pressure to stay the same inside and out and plus you could refill through the hole without ever opening the bucket. The screen should keep out any contaminates.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have no trees higher than the roof of my coop and it is a metal roof, so it should be okay. I hope. Plus we really don't get all that much rain anyway so I'm sure I will be filling with a hose more than anything anyway.

I had considered using the cups before I went to the nipples. I read reviews saying that they had to be washed a lot and replaced. How do you like them?

I love the cups. They are easy to spin off without spilling water and just a wipe with the finger is all they need and pop right back on. I've tried another cup that is a hassle to remove so that one is a problem. I've had all types of nipples leak but I still use them. It beats carrying water.

I have 40-80 foot trees over most of the coops that are constantly dropping stuff.

Clovis, my sole reason for rejecting the rain collection barrel idea in the first place was the age and composition of my coop's roof. I think composition shingles have been known to leach some pretty harmful chemicals into rain barrels.

However, if I am successful with my chickens this year, I have another area I hope to put a building with a metal roof and expand the flock considerably. That's where the rain barrel idea can come back into play.

Yes, you have to displace the air in the bucket in order to fill it and then you need the air pressure or you'll produce a vacuum in the bucket as the chickens drink. Thanks for the tips.

2 coops have shingles. All the rest have EPDM rubber roofs so those wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Balloonjuice]

The finished product. According to the mfr, each nipple is supposed to accommodate three full size birds. So this particular set-up would be for a dozen. From what I've read, it is easy to get the birds to drink from them once they figure out there is water available to them. These nipples came with grommets, so the do not leak at all. If I did not have the grommets, I wonder if silicon around the nipples would accomplish the same thing.

 

[chad-o]

Balloonjuice, the nipples you have there are for vertical use.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/100830/rich386
rich386 sells horizontal ones. He also sells them on e-bay

You can't reach him on BYC !!! Here are his nipples on Ebay. Visit his store he has every thing listed.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-HORIZONTA...735?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338bfef01f