HELP!!!!!! GRRRR!!!! My Buckets (and nipples) Leak!!!

[dcsharpe]

I know this has been addressed in several posts but I can't find just the right answer by using the search option so I am hoping for either an answer or a link to the answer. I started with the regular galvanized and plastic waterers. We all know how that went. 1 drink from 1 chicken and there is all sorts of junk settling in the trough part. Then I made a 5 gallon bucket waterer with nipples in the bottom and that led to a very tragic incident where we lost a chicken. So, I immediately made a set up where the bucket was on the outside with a PVC connection through the side of the bucket, close to the bottom, with pipe running through to the inside of the coop, down to the nipple waterer part. This actually would work out great except that all the slip together PVC parts work perfectly but the screw together part where it goes into the bucket, leaks terribly. The nipples actually seem to drip a little as well. I have seen the beaktime.com site from links I found here but I can't find the listing that includes the whole shebang with the bucket and hoses and everything so I can't screw it up but I know I have seen posts here where they talk about offering it. If I had just got that to begin with, I would have spent less than all my experiments and I wouldn't have lost a chicken. Does anyone have instructions on how to fix my system or have something they swear by? Can I order the complete kit from Beaktime.com and all my prayers will be answered? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donna

 

[Lance]

I'm not sure which nipples you have but i bought a 'tap' to drill for the correct size of the nipple . put a dab of silicone on the threads and screwed them in and haven't had a drip. Here are the nipples i use.

 

[dcsharpe]

I have the Avian Miser nipples. I used teflon tape at the threads. They seem to be dripping at the nipple. There is always a drop of water hanging on the end of the metal piece and the area underneath them stays damp. The worst place though is around the entrance to the bucket. I caked aquarium silicone around it but it just pulls away from the plastic bucket like it is taunting me!

Donna

 

[dcsharpe]

OK, I think the actual nipple leakage may be because I can't seem to get them all to point straight down. I was looking at other posts and nipples and it makes sense that if the slightest touch makes the water drip, then leaning just a bit to the side would be like someone just nudging it. Looks like I may definantly need the cup style since I can't even seem to be able to drill straight, lol!

Donna

 

[chfite]

Teflon tape on the threads will help prevent leaks. Sometimes, the nipples on my pipe system leak when the supply is quite full. I think the pressure exceeds the design of the nipples Once the water drops to a certain level, the dripping stops.

Chris

 

[dcsharpe]

I had used teflon tape but apparently my drilling ability left something to be desired and the nipples just didn't line up well enough to point straight down so my theory is that they were in a position that made them perpetually triggered by leaning slightly so they always dripped as if a chicken were using it. I have switched out to the cups from Cutler Supply and the chickens seem to have it figured out already and it isn't wet underneath now. I even just got the slightly bigger drill bit and opened the holes that I had already drilled up a bit more and used the same piece of pipe. I did have to put a longer pipe down into the coop because I knew they wouldn't be reaching up anymore.

Here's a pic that sorta shows the current set-up if you look beyond the camera ham, LOL!