Farm without water!

[Dgevry]

I am raising my 14 week old chickens on a farm that has 0 water on the property which is an off site farm as I live 5 miles away.

For the past 1 1/2 months I've been bringing 5 gallon buckets every other day to water them and have tried setting up the 55 gal set ups and 5 gallon set ups with no luck.

I am now at slaughter time for my Roos plus am getting sick of carrying buckets so much.

Anyone have suggestions to both my everyday waterering and my butchering water needs?

 

[aatx]

Have you tried the horizontal nipples in a 5 gallon bucket? Water stays clean and doesn't get wasted.

 

[WalnutHill]

If the site geology works for it, I'd sink a driven well outside and up slope from the coop and pens. I can't imagine hauling so much water so often.

Cost of a driven well is point, pipe, rental of pipe driver, and a pump to pull the water. A simple cast iron hand pump works just fine. You will need a water jug or bucket for priming the pump, and refill it once the water is flowing.

You'd still do the bucket brigade to your 55 gallon tub but it would cut out the hauling in the car part of the deal.

 

[petrel]

I don't know how you are set, vehicle wise, but maybe you could purchase a bulk tank and an electric pump with built in pressure switch (basically a spray rig without the sprayer) to put in the trunk of your car or bed of your truck. Rig some wiring to your battery and then you would then have pressurized water wherever a hose could reach.

 

[Percheron chick]

Welcome to the west. Getting water isn't always a simple straightforward proposition. I have been hauling water for 20 years from the city yard.

If you have a truck, pick up a 55 gallon barrel (can get them free from dairies, city yards, car washes...). Fill it up and transfer the water to another barrel or tank by either pump, simple siphon or put a spigot or value on it. (rain barrels at home depot have a spigot on them), Have a spigot on the 2nd barrel, attatch a hose and let gravity fill your water tanks. If you have a roofed coop with downspouts, just capture the run off into the barrel and save yourself that step when you can.

I would butcher somewhere else where you have running water.

 

[Dgevry]

Thanks all for the replies.

As for the well. It's leased land and I'm not sure I want to spend the money yet ( I just paid to put electricity in)

Nipples I've thought about but am worried they would not figure it out and die without water

I have tractors so big barrels wouldn't work I could only use 55 gallon ones if I could use the with a hose with them which I tried but couldn't get the water to flow

As for buchering where there is water flowing I can't in the city I live in unless you mean kill them on the farm and bring them to the house to actually do the work?

 

[MeepBeep]

IBC (Intermediate bulk container) on a trailer would be what I would look into for the temporary... You can get an on demand water pump and get usable water pressure out of the tank without much hassle... Used IBCs can be found really reasonable on Craigslist most of the time, same with a dual axle utility trailer that can handle the weight easily...

For a more permanent solution since it's not water for human consumption I would look into drilling a shallow irrigation well, you can literally do it yourself on the cheap of course you should follow local regulations... Google up PVC well drilling or DIY well drilling, not the best option everywhere but an option in many places...

 

[WalnutHill]

A driven well isn't expensive if the water table is high. You may be able to find well inspection logs online or ask your County Extension or Health Department about agricultural wells. If you only need to go 40 feet or so for limited quantities of water, it can be a cost effective option. We sunk one at our "tree farm" and the total cost was about $120 including the hand pump.

If the 55 gallon drums won't drain, chances are you have the top bung capped tightly. Put a piece of metal window screen on it instead (use a hose clamp, it will keep small rodents and bugs out). You need air inflow at the top to allow water to drain at the bottom. We use 55 gallon drums with stock tank heaters inside for winter water reservoirs.

 

[seann]

The chickens will figure out the nipple waterer pretty quickly.
Just show one how to get water out with your finger and the rest will learn.