DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[loveourbirds]

a simple solution would be to make the side rails bigger so the chicken has to step on them, either from the side or front.

 

[Highcotton]

I posted this previously but I couldn"t get my picture to upload. I think I have it now. This a five gallon waterer that I made from a free detergent container from a commercial laundry and a pan that I bought for $2.99. I have seen these containers elsewhere. They work better than 5 gallon buckets because they are easier to seal. I drilled a 3/8" holle about half way up the pan level where I wanted the water level to stop. It would be easier to carry if the hole were drilled near the top but that was not as stable as it was sitting on the bottom so I elected to drilll the hole near the bottom and deal with carrying the container horizontally.

I just got it to upload.

 

[Highcotton]

The waterer is simply a container sitting in a pan. You can do the same with a gallon milk jug or any other container that you can seal so that the only way air can enter is through the hole where the water exits. When the hole is under water no more water can flow out until the chickens drink water down to a level where air can enter the hole.

 

[perchie.girl]

I posted this previously but I couldn"t get my picture to upload. I think I have it now. This a five gallon waterer that I made from a free detergent container from a commercial laundry and a pan that I bought for $2.99. I have seen these containers elsewhere. They work better than 5 gallon buckets because they are easier to seal. I drilled a 3/8" holle about half way up the pan level where I wanted the water level to stop. It would be easier to carry if the hole were drilled near the top but that was not as stable as it was sitting on the bottom so I elected to drilll the hole near the bottom and deal with carrying the container horizontally.

I just got it to upload.

can you put a cork in the hole for carrying?

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

The waterer is simply a container sitting in a pan. You can do the same with a gallon milk jug or any other container that you can seal so that the only way air can enter is through the hole where the water exits. When the hole is under water no more water can flow out until the chickens drink water down to a level where air can enter the hole.

Picture came through. I built a water reservoir out of a 40 gallon container but I put a faucet on the bottom and connected it to Automatic dog waterers used in each of my four chicken pens. Dont have a picture of it but it was a single one inch diameter hole with a bulkhead fitting pushed through and sealed with its own gasket setup. The bulkhead fitting had threads for a faucet. I used the smallest standard hose thread faucet I could find.

It worked for about two months before it started leaking. Got jostled..... I need to disassemble it and reinforce the seal with RTV..... Not a fan of RTV but dont want to waste what I have already spent on the whole setup.

Chickens are back on Hose water for now.

deb

 

[LittleBits]

I posted this previously but I couldn"t get my picture to upload. I think I have it now. This a five gallon waterer that I made from a free detergent container from a commercial laundry and a pan that I bought for $2.99. I have seen these containers elsewhere. They work better than 5 gallon buckets because they are easier to seal. I drilled a 3/8" holle about half way up the pan level where I wanted the water level to stop. It would be easier to carry if the hole were drilled near the top but that was not as stable as it was sitting on the bottom so I elected to drilll the hole near the bottom and deal with carrying the container horizontally.

I just got it to upload.

Good idea plus nice and cheap. This looks simple enough that even I could make it! I really need something other than a gallon-size ice- cream pail! I fill it or change the water 3-4x/day and we have to carry a big bucket to the coop as there isn't running water out there! Would the same idea work for feed but with a larger hole to let the feed out?

Is the top and bottom attached to each other?

Another question - would it matter for the chickens if the bottom pan was rubber or metal? Which would sit straighter? Or wear better/longer?

Thanks!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I posted this previously but I couldn"t get my picture to upload. I think I have it now. This a five gallon waterer that I made from a free detergent container from a commercial laundry and a pan that I bought for $2.99. I have seen these containers elsewhere. They work better than 5 gallon buckets because they are easier to seal. I drilled a 3/8" holle about half way up the pan level where I wanted the water level to stop. It would be easier to carry if the hole were drilled near the top but that was not as stable as it was sitting on the bottom so I elected to drilll the hole near the bottom and deal with carrying the container horizontally. I just got it to upload.

can you put a cork in the hole for carrying? deb

That sounds like a great idea!

 

[SowdersHomestead]

Redneck ingenuity. Love it. I'll have to work on uploaded some of our pics over the weekend

 

[coffeekittie]

Good idea plus nice and cheap. This looks simple enough that even I could make it! I really need something other than a gallon-size ice- cream pail! I fill it or change the water 3-4x/day and we have to carry a big bucket to the coop as there isn't running water out there! Would the same idea work for feed but with a larger hole to let the feed out?

Is the top and bottom attached to each other?

Another question - would it matter for the chickens if the bottom pan was rubber or metal? Which would sit straighter? Or wear better/longer?

Thanks!

Don't use galvanized metal if you use Apple Cider Vinegar in the water, but other than that, you can go with either type. I like rubber because when it's freezing out you can easily dump the ice out, and not so much with metal. I have rubber tubs from way back when I used to train horses, meaning they are about 30 years old and still going strong.

 

[LittleBits]

Quote: What is the Apple Cider Vinegar for? What does it do to galvanized metal?

I did find a cheap plastic pan, but I think it should be a bit bigger. Was in a hurry so chickies would have water all day since we were going to be gone. Works OK, they just don't have a lot of room for their heads. They sure were curious about their new "thing in the pen". I put it on top of two paving stones to keep some of the mud out. I find when the water gets about 1/2 way down the bucket, it trickles out very slow unless you press on the top of the lid.

I saw some quite large rubber tubs about 4" deep at TSC and I may get one of these.

Best of all, they still had plenty of water when we got home!

Would this same idea work for feed, anyone? Or would the feed draw moisture and get lumpy?

Thanks for your reply!