Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[bnjrob]

I use PEX pipe ... that's a flexible plastic pipe that expands a bit if it should freeze, to make cracks less likely.

You CAN use a garden hose or a bucket, as shown in this video, but for various reasons I went with PEX pipe. I ran the water line all the way through the coop, and put shut off valves and hose bibs on the end, so I can flush it frequently in the summer and drain it when it freezes (which it seems to do her for a few days every year).

I had zero experience working with PEX pipe, but managed to figure it out even though I got started off with poor advice from Home Depot. It mostly takes a couple decent tools. There are even "push together" couplings.

I've run PEX before so that wouldn't be a problem, but I can't run a water line to pens that move, so I would have to use a bucket to supply the water. A few years ago I had some self-refilling game bird bowls sent to me from England - you drilled a hole in a bucket and screwed these bowls into the hole. But the things constantly got clogged and then wouldn't refill. Since this is a different setup than those bowls I've tried, it might work with the turkeys.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I've run PEX before so that wouldn't be a problem, but I can't run a water line to pens that move, so I would have to use a bucket to supply the water. A few years ago I had some self-refilling game bird bowls sent to me from England - you drilled a hole in a bucket and screwed these bowls into the hole. But the things constantly got clogged and then wouldn't refill. Since this is a different setup than those bowls I've tried, it might work with the turkeys.

The video shows exactly how to work with a bucket as a water source for the founts, as is needed for mobil pasture pens.

 

[bnjrob]

The video shows exactly how to work with a bucket as a water source for the founts, as is needed for mobil pasture pens.

Just watched the video. I could turn that into a hanging bucket with the fount underneath no problem. Then my half blind rooster and the turkeys could have those kinds of founts. Think I'm gonna order one and try it out. I was looking at some tripod-type 5 gallon waterers that Premier 1 has, but this kind of setup would give me more options for hanging, mounting on the side of the pen or free standing. Have seen them before but didn't know anyone that had used them and didn't want to waste money without having at least one person say that they had used them before and that they weren't too bad.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Just watched the video. I could turn that into a hanging bucket with the fount underneath no problem. Then my half blind rooster and the turkeys could have those kinds of founts. Think I'm gonna order one and try it out. I was looking at some tripod-type 5 gallon waterers that Premier 1 has, but this kind of setup would give me more options for hanging, mounting on the side of the pen or free standing. Have seen them before but didn't know anyone that had used them and didn't want to waste money without having at least one person say that they had used them before and that they weren't too bad.

You could maybe even do one bucket with more than one fount under it. I always like a backup.

One IMPORTANT bit of info ... there are tiny valves involved. These are the same as for car tire air fill valves. They need to be screwed in tightly to prevent leaking. And the fill level nuts need frequent adjusting, too, or the founts overflow or don't fill. I don't mind a little leaking myself, occasionally, but if you want ZERO leaking, you need to tighten the valves periodically. There is a special tool for that (Valve Core Extracting Tool is what NAPA calls it). I'm more concerned about the founts not filling, so I check that with obsessive frequency.

We got a bunch of the used valves for free from our tire shop. Having extras is handy in case they get clogged. They come in packs at NAPA for pennies a piece. I think when they're sold as poultry fount replacement parts & tools they a LOT more expensive.

Because we have well water, we put a filter in the supply line, and also a pressure regulator. We haven't had many issues with clogging.

 

[bnjrob]

You could maybe even do one bucket with more than one fount under it. I always like a backup.

One IMPORTANT bit of info ... there are tiny valves involved. These are the same as for car tire air fill valves. They need to be screwed in tightly to prevent leaking. And the fill level nuts need frequent adjusting, too, or the founts overflow or don't fill. I don't mind a little leaking myself, occasionally, but if you want ZERO leaking, you need to tighten the valves periodically. There is a special tool for that (Valve Core Extracting Tool is what NAPA calls it). I'm more concerned about the founts not filling, so I check that with obsessive frequency.

We got a bunch of the used valves for free from our tire shop. Having extras is handy in case they get clogged. They come in packs at NAPA for pennies a piece. I think when they're sold as poultry fount replacement parts & tools they a LOT more expensive.

Because we have well water, we put a filter in the supply line, and also a pressure regulator. We haven't had many issues with clogging.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[finnfur]

Our gypsy chickens are mobil all year so this is the system we use. Different age chickens and different terrain needs different height for the waterers.
We solved that with adjustable shelf brackets - All the nipple waterers inside coop are recycled 1.25 Gal frosting buckets and outside are plastic coffee containers. Plastic feeders all hang inside coop. I have found chickens get along with a lot less water than you would think and thats why we went to the half gallon coffee containers.
That gets changed daily and the 1.25 gallon inside get changed once a week because it is out of sunlight.


Its a KISS setup but its unique to our needs for Gypsys

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I love the shelf bracket.

 

[finnfur]

I love the shelf bracket.

Works from chicks to turkeys.
The inside bucket lid has a hole saw cut hole cut in it to poor water in because during the winter a cord runs out the notch in cover from a bird bath deicer to keep it from freezing.
I have electricity pre wired in trailer coops with a light and receptacle. During winter we run extension cord to it.

 

[bnjrob]

Our gypsy chickens are mobil all year so this is the system we use. Different age chickens and different terrain needs different height for the waterers.
We solved that with adjustable shelf brackets - All the nipple waterers inside coop are recycled 1.25 Gal frosting buckets and outside are plastic coffee containers. Plastic feeders all hang inside coop. I have found chickens get along with a lot less water than you would think and thats why we went to the half gallon coffee containers.
That gets changed daily and the 1.25 gallon inside get changed once a week because it is out of sunlight.


Its a KISS setup but its unique to our needs for Gypsys

Great use of shelf brackets!

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
Where is everyone? It's finally gotten warm and dry here in western PA. The lone chick turns out is a pullet! Yeah! She's a comely little thing. I have another hen sitting eggs in the coop. Will see what comes of that. Next week will be the end of the third week since I put Tux in with the hens and removed Rocky. So now he should be sire of any of the chicks born.
Tomorrow I will rearrange the rest of the hens. Pulling 3 from Tux's flock due to larger cushions and putting them with a rooster in the egg flock. . Replacing them with the Ross hen, May,(my best Boese layer) , and the hen raising the pullet. No one seems to want Knight And Day. So I will either give him away to someone's farm or put him down. I just don't need him anymore.
Best,
Karen