Logistical help needed

[olecityslicker]

I have my 14 RIRs about 15 miles from my house (long story). They are on about an acre. There is no water on the field. I leave the feed in 5 gal white buckets adjacent to the fence, but I must bring up water EVERY DAY in the form of 6 one gallon jugs of water (we have a pot bellied pig too... also part of that long story!)

It is 30 minutes of driving every day. They are getting to be some expensive eggs and meat (when they come)! Honestly, I am doing it for the experience.

My questions is, to avoid having to make daily trips, does anyone know how to turn 55 gal plastic barrels (sealed except capped vents on top) into waterers and feeders? I currently have a dedicated waterer for the chickens... an inverted 5 gallon plastic bucket resting in an pan. But, it is too small for the pig to accurately get at it.

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[RendonRoo]

If you could install a valve on the barrel you could have it drip over a trough type waterer. Just barely crack the valve and let it go. The trick would be getting it regulated. Might take some trial and error for a day or two. Good Luck

 

[momof247371]

is there electricity on the land? if so make a fountain type thing from them and go that route. they would have fresh water at all times. or you could cut the bottom out. leaving a 6"-12"lip so they can drink.. im not much help but i hope someone can be..

 

[cybercat]

What you need is as low pressure watering system kit. You can find them thru place on line that sell poultry supplies like MM or Cutler. i have the MM catalog in front of me and they sell just the part to make you own. Go to the MM website and get there catolog it is free.

MM=Murray McMurray Hatchery.

 

[twentynine]

Place the drum up on saw horses, lay it on its side. You may have a large bung and a small bung, the large will be 2" pipe, small 3/4" pipe. Roll the drum around until the bungs line up one atop the other. Hook up a tubing from bottom bung to store bought watereer. Get the waterer with the float in it. The float will cut off water flow when the waterer gets full. It will also allow water into the waterer when chickens and pig drink. The second bung come out with a second fitting, turn 90* up and put a funnel on it, for refilling drum.

Figure it's gonna take a few trips with water jugs to get the drum full. But you bound to have a place close by you can get water.

Feeder-- large game feeders are available in catalogs, it shouldn't be a stretch to look at one of those pictures, and adapt the design to a drum.