home made waterer

[CutestChickenFarmer]

Just put the water holes near the top of the bucket! When you put the lid on tightly, just turn it over into your water pan. No need for holes elsewhere, and the bottom of the bucket remains intact.

 

[CutestChickenFarmer]

Right - fill it up, put on the lid, pick up the handle, and carry it to wherever your pan is. Then, grab the bottom, invert it and place it in the pan. The water should come out, glug, glug, glug, from the holes that were made near the top of the bucket, near where the lid screws on.

 

[schmoo]

Thanks everyone.

 

[tammy j]

I made my waterer by using a plastic 1 gallon jug with lid that my DH brought home from work. You could also use a 5 gallon bucket with lid.
I drilled 4 SMALL holes (one hole should work just as well) about 1/4 inch above the bottom of the bucket. Then I put it in a cat litter pan, filled with water and put the lid on. It works great. I do have it sitting on a couple of cement blocks, to help keep the water from getting as dirty.
I was lucky that DH could get lots of buckets from his work. I was also working at a restaurant, so I could get the lids from the 5 gal. pickle buckets. The trick is you have to have a lid to make a vaccuum to keep the water from running out.
This works so well I am planning on using it in the dog pen, cause the dogs love to get wet in the old sandbox I use for them.
Another idea I had was to use a 55 gallon barrel, and install a spigot in the bottom, then just pour as I needed it into a smaller container.
Kinda like a tea picher I use in the fridge.

 

[frankenchick]

I saw the one that was made with a kitty litter jug. The hole was about ½ inch from the bottom and was pencil-sized. The person who submitted the idea said that 1) the jugs last about 6 mos. before the threads on the lid no longer make a tight enough seal; 2) they don’t freeze up so quickly in the winter; 3) their water lasts about 3 days (I think they had about 20 chickens).

I'm gonna try it as soon as I find someone who has cats and uses the kitty litter in a jug.

 

[DebbieParker]

We started with a 5 gallon bucket with a screw on lid with a gasket seal. I secured the bucket to the oil pan with a small bolt, put a small hole in the side, set it up and it leaked. My husband bought another oil pan, used JB weld putty to plug up the holes, and it STILL leaks. What are we doing wrong? Thanks for the help!

 

[breakout]

Silkiechicken -- thanks for the explanation. I knew it was something like that but it's been a long time since physics class! Here's a fun little video showing the principle

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=upside+down+cup+in+water+waterer&view=detail&mid=7B5D633D6D49426442EC7B5D633D6D49426442EC&first=0

and one more related to chickens

So those that are getting leaks -- somehow air is getting into the top of your container. Seems like the safer method is with the bottom of the bucket at the top -- there's always the chance a lid has a pinhole leak and that would be all it takes for 14lbs/sq in. of atmospheric pressure to push in

 

[DebbieParker]

That fixed. The problem! But first our holes were too small. But when we made enough holes that were big enough it worked great!

 

[mypollitos]

I also tried this method and have the same problem. I'll try to get a new can and open the hole a little lower so the water line is above, another thing that might seem obvious is that the lid needs to be completely closed I guess. If any body has a picture of the finished waterer it would be great.

 

[hemet dennis]

I also tried this method and have the same problem. I'll try to get a new can and open the hole a little lower so the water line is above, another thing that might seem obvious is that the lid needs to be completely closed I guess. If any body has a picture of the finished waterer it would be great.

Here's pictures of my waterier and feeder







With the water using the tray for under a potted plant from Home Depot for about $3 and it's safe for day old chicks. They wont get in it and drown.