Homemade Waterer using 55-Gallon Drums and 5-Gallon Buckets

[Tervil Torv]

Any advise on how to make a waterer out of a 55-gallon drum and a 5-gallon bucket? I bought eight 55-gallon drums with the intent of augmenting my 5-gallon bucket watering systems which I discovered on this website!. My first prototype was a dud...so far!

What I did was elevate the 55-gallon drum and plumb a 1-inch pipe from the bottom of the drum into the top of the 5-gallon bucket. My drum and bucket are both air tight. However, when I fill the drum, cap it, and release the water from the drum to the bucket, it either flows freely out of the 5-gallon bucket before the 5-gallon bucket has a chance to fill, or it won't flow at all. I am hoping that it's just an issue with air in the pipe and the 5-gallon bucket that are creating a vacuum. Tonight I am going to buy a "bleeder valve" for the top of the 5-gallon bucket so I can bleed the air out of the 5-gallon bucket as it is filling with water.

Has anyone else attempted this type of homemade waterer and if so, does it work?

Thank you much

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/290206/rainwater-collection-for-the-chicken-mcmansion-part-7

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/757873/rainwater-good-or-not

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/597049/rain-barrel-for-drinking-water/10

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/670581/help-with-barrel-waterer

Here are some links...they may or may not be useful to you.

Make sure you sanitize your system periodically.

 

[chad-o]

Sounds like by sealing the 55 gal. drum it forms a vacume. To solve that just drill a small hole at the top 1/16" is enough. To keep the 5 gal. pail from over filling you need to add a float valve like this one. If you want to eliminate leaks in the nipples try Horizontal Watering Nipples.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321295631026?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649