Homemade Chicken Waterers

[gibsonjo]

I am attempting to build a homemade chicken waterer using a 5 gal bucket and a large pan with 3" sides. The I drilled a 1/4" hole 1" from bottom bucket filled with water and sat in large pan. The water should have stopped coming into pan when it got over the hole but it continued to run, overflow and will not stop. Any thoughts. Do I need to turn the bucket over and use top with lid tightly on. Is the hole too big or small? I tried a 2nd time with a 2nd bucket and only drilled the 1/4" hole 1/4" from bottom. Same result. The water covered the hole in pan then continued to run out.

J

 

[b.hromada]

Others on here have made them too, they'll give you a hand with that. Anyway,

from S. Florida!

 

[H2OKarensa]

yeah, your bucket needs to be upside down.
This has to work with a vacuum. Unless you can get an airtight seal with that lid you have you've pretty much ruined your bucket.

You can still use it as a feeder, though!

 

[Beekissed]

You bucket has to have a tightly sealed lid for this to work. This creates a vacuum within the waterer that sort of self regulates the water coming out the bottom. When sealed tightly, only when the water in your tray is lowered past your outlet hole will air flow in the hole and allow water to flow out to refill the level of the tray. And that seal has to be a good one, believe me!

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

recently did exactly the same as you. try this instead....set your bucket on its natural "bottom" and place the top on tightly. drill a hole (maybe 2) just below where the lid snaps on (I justed a 1/2" drill bit). remove the top, fill with water, replace top. INVERT the bucket so the top and holes are now at the bottom, into the pan and voila!! Hope this helps....I love mine!!!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Yes, you have to put your hole in where what would be the top of the bucket with the lid still on. When you had the lid at the top, the lid was evidently not on tight enough to make a tight seal, so there was no vacuum inside. Turn a NEW bucket over and drill the hole under the lid. Leave the lid on and drill just one hole large enough to get your hose into it for filling; doing that, you can carry the bucket (or hose) to the large pan and turn it over without spilling any of the water.

Edit: BTW, Five gallons of water weighs 40 pounds, so if you fill it, be sure that you can carry it.

 

[LilbitChicken]

from Hereford AZ!

We NEED to make our own waterer.....it would help out......

I will try this!!

 

[trilyn]

from NY!!

 

[hen-thusiast]

from UT!