drinking nipples question.

[dustponds10]

when I drill the hole in the pvc do I have to tap the hole ? Might be a stupid question but i am just wondering.

 

[kichohana]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by tapping the hole. I screwed my nipple waterers into pvc pipe using a specific size drill bit recommended by the manufacturer. I did put a bit of clear silicone sealant on each one to prevent leaking. I used the same method for the single nipple waterer I used for my babies in their brooder.

 

[Hawgon]

You dont need to tap the hole. I think most nipples use the 11/32" size drill bit but use whatever they recommend for the nipples you buy. Just drill straight as you can and so nipples hang as close to vertical as you can and you should be fine.

 

[bigoledude]

I am using a 21/64 drill-bit and tapping the hole. I will seal the threads with Teflon tape. If you do not use a tap, you are mashing the male threads into the non-threaded hole. I know, I know, the manufacturer says it will hold when done this way. But, if the male fitting is threaded, my female hole will be threaded also. Just me....

Almost every nipple waterer system I've seen has puddles of water underneath the nipples. I betcha mine won't have nearly as much. I'm sure the chickens spill some but, my nipples will not leak from the threads.

Old machinists find it hard to give up old habits. But, I have another reason for wanting no leaks. This system is located on the property of an elderly friend of mine who is raising these birds with me. She is hauling water every day for these chickens to drink from the old inverted jar type waterers. She keeps everything sooo neat. I just don't want this watering system to cause the watering area to stay messy. And, I want this lady's work to be cut dramatically.

I will then start work on feeders that holds about 50 pounds of feed and, can be filled from outside of the pens.

 

[ChickenJerk]

With a machinists attention to details and skills you should have no problem with nipples leaking from the connection unless the nipples are poorly manufactured. Some brands are.
If you have excessive water under the nipples it could also come from the water pressure being to high, the nipples not being the right height for the birds or not being vertical. The nipples may leak from the stem due to poor manufacture or something in the water blocking them open.
I have seen many leaking systems that were caused by imperfectly drilled holes. Folks just rammed a drill at soft and/or thin plastic and got a hole with burrs or divots cut out of the side from binding drill bits. Some of those would have not been easily fixed by sealants.

 

[bigoledude]

Hey Jerk
I plan on having my water gravity-flow through PVC pipe. How high would my reservoir have to be to cause over pressuring? What is the ideal height for the nipples?

I think I have the drilling of the holes, without gouging, covered. And, I plan on drawing a line down the length of my water pipe and having all of the nipples plumb/vertical.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

LOL. I was reading through this post and I though you were being hostile calling him a jerk funny, I like it JERK.

For nipples make sure they are high enought that chickens can stand fully upright and drink yet the shortest chick can still easily reach.

 

[debid]

LOL. I was reading through this post and I though you were being hostile calling him a jerk funny, I like it JERK.

For nipples make sure they are high enought that chickens can stand fully upright and drink yet the shortest chick can still easily reach.

Good advice. The proper height is usually higher than people think. The chickens should be able to walk underneath the nipple. I'm using a bucket suspended by chain and I gradually raised the container as my chicks grew. I measured and we're at 21" now with full-grown, standard fowl. If you're fixing a pipe to the wall, you can still make it height-adjustable by putting something underneath for juveniles to step up on and then lowering/removing the booster step as needed.

 

[pigeonguy]

If you want it to be neet and dry under it put some kind of drain system under it. my nipples don't leak around the washer of the nipple but every once in a while one will get stuck and leak. I put 2 inch pvc pipe cut in half with hardware cloth over it and that drains into a pail. It is all elivated so the chickens have to step up to drink so there was enough room to slant the half cut pvc to the pail.

 

[Island Roo]

I know this thread is old but.....

I just got my nipples and tried several hole sizes without tapping and ended up with mashed threads - like bigoldude mentioned. Luckily I tested it out on scrap pvc.

Then I drilled a 21/64 hole, used a 3/8 x 24 tap and now the nipples fit like a proper threaded plumbing fitting (teflon tape of course).

Some folks get by fine without the extra step but for me its worth it.

Thanks for the help - this works much better.