Here's info about my auto nipple watering system:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219081&p=
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=219081&p=
Does anyone use the nipple water drinkers?
- Thread starter hennypennysmom
- Start date
Did I miss something? Who can tell me what size drill for the non-threaded nipples? I just got mine and they are going to be mounted in the bottow of a 3 gal. containet with a fill valve. I plan to bungee the lid on and expect it to have enough air bypass to allow them to drink.
Dr.Doorlock :
Did I miss something? Who can tell me what size drill for the non-threaded nipples? I just got mine and they are going to be mounted in the bottow of a 3 gal. containet with a fill valve. I plan to bungee the lid on and expect it to have enough air bypass to allow them to drink.
Hi there, check out my page on the waterer, it gives out the size of the bit too-3/8" is what I used. If it didn't fit right off the bat, I very carefully reamed it out a bit until it fit. It takes a few tries to get it right, but it's worth it!! You want to be able to push it in and it needs to have resistance, if it slides right in-it will leak. Try it on something other than the container you are going to use if you are nervous. Good luck!
Did I miss something? Who can tell me what size drill for the non-threaded nipples? I just got mine and they are going to be mounted in the bottow of a 3 gal. containet with a fill valve. I plan to bungee the lid on and expect it to have enough air bypass to allow them to drink.
Hi there, check out my page on the waterer, it gives out the size of the bit too-3/8" is what I used. If it didn't fit right off the bat, I very carefully reamed it out a bit until it fit. It takes a few tries to get it right, but it's worth it!! You want to be able to push it in and it needs to have resistance, if it slides right in-it will leak. Try it on something other than the container you are going to use if you are nervous. Good luck!
Just got finished with my waterer. 3/8" did the trick. Once the burrs were removed, the nipple pushed in with a little persuasion. 3 for three. The fill valve I used in the 3 1/2 gallon bucket is mounted in the center through a 1 1/8" hole made with a hole saw. Nothing leaks and I have it hooked up to the water hose. I did already have the water pressure limited to 25 PSI using a pressure regulator designed for drip irrigation. Total price for the project was less than $35. This along with my 4" PVC gravity feeders make it where I could take a weeks vacation and come home to find the neighbors got 3 dozen eggs just for peeking in on them.
Now for the open-at-dawn, close-at-dusk coup door. I have an old, but reliable battery powered drill I plan to make into a screw drive system to lift and lower a door. As you can imagine, it will need to be light enough not to hurt them if they get caught, but heavy enough to pull down against predators. The trouble is, I do not know how to reverse the direction electrtronically.
Now for the open-at-dawn, close-at-dusk coup door. I have an old, but reliable battery powered drill I plan to make into a screw drive system to lift and lower a door. As you can imagine, it will need to be light enough not to hurt them if they get caught, but heavy enough to pull down against predators. The trouble is, I do not know how to reverse the direction electrtronically.
Hi Dr. Doorlock!
I went to my local Lowes and talked to the plumbing department about my nipple bucket idea. I started with 5 of the nipples in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket hanging from a hook on the wall.
But I wanted to make an automatic watering system.
The guys suggested a simple toilet float valve, get the appropriate connecting hose to a 3/4" garden hose, ...and install in the bottom center of the bucket.
OMG! I haven't filled a water bucket since early summer!
We do get some cold nights here in the winter (not usually lower than in the teens) so I was going to use a bird bath immersion heater when it gets cold. My neighbor has been using an aquarium heater for a couple of years so I'm going to give that a whirl instead. The immersion heaters are about $35 on sale here. And my neighbor bought his aquarium heater for about $5 at Walmart. He's used it for 3 winters so far and it has worked well enough for our cold nights.
Good luck with that drilling pop door! There must be a way to make it reverse. Hubby bought a nifty battery drill for me this year. I have to push a button to make it go in reverse but someone out there probably can figure out how to do that remotely so you can avoid going out in the cold and dark. I would think that a DC motor would be easier to configure than AC. And an automatic timer so you don't even have to be home! I think Nifty Chicken posted recently about using a car antenna to do something similar with a pop door.
I went to my local Lowes and talked to the plumbing department about my nipple bucket idea. I started with 5 of the nipples in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket hanging from a hook on the wall.
But I wanted to make an automatic watering system.
The guys suggested a simple toilet float valve, get the appropriate connecting hose to a 3/4" garden hose, ...and install in the bottom center of the bucket.
OMG! I haven't filled a water bucket since early summer!
We do get some cold nights here in the winter (not usually lower than in the teens) so I was going to use a bird bath immersion heater when it gets cold. My neighbor has been using an aquarium heater for a couple of years so I'm going to give that a whirl instead. The immersion heaters are about $35 on sale here. And my neighbor bought his aquarium heater for about $5 at Walmart. He's used it for 3 winters so far and it has worked well enough for our cold nights.
Good luck with that drilling pop door! There must be a way to make it reverse. Hubby bought a nifty battery drill for me this year. I have to push a button to make it go in reverse but someone out there probably can figure out how to do that remotely so you can avoid going out in the cold and dark. I would think that a DC motor would be easier to configure than AC. And an automatic timer so you don't even have to be home! I think Nifty Chicken posted recently about using a car antenna to do something similar with a pop door.
If you are looking for the type that screw in i have a bunch for sale
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=236566
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=236566
You can also get the nipples from qcsupply.com. They are 1.27 before s&h charges. Can't remember how much that was but I know it was less than teksupply. But, they don't carry the extra grommets. If you check out the link in my signature you can see the ones I made. I love them and would hate to use any other kind of waterer.
Randell Burkey has the push in style for 1.59.
I just ordered today. Tired off the mess in the coop.
I am also going to use a 15 gallon barrel.
I just ordered today. Tired off the mess in the coop.
I am also going to use a 15 gallon barrel.
I just ordered screw in nipples from teksupply. I'm going to buy a Fortiflex flat sided bucket and hang it on the fence in my new coop.
I've had it with auto water things that are hard to fill. All I should have to do is stick a hose in it and turn it on the same way I do my dog bucket
I've had it with auto water things that are hard to fill. All I should have to do is stick a hose in it and turn it on the same way I do my dog bucket
Last edited:
3/8" is too big for screw-in style nipples. 1/4" worked for me though.
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