Low cost on demand water storage system.

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Just so you are aware -- pretty much all auto waterer systems will leak (potentially 'flood') *sometimes*. A common scenario is that a small bit of yutz gets stuck in the valve (in this case, the nipple) and it gets stuck slightly "on"; or a fitting cracks; or that sort of thing.

So you do want to plan for the occasional bedding change-out.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
Just so you are aware -- pretty much all auto waterer systems will leak (potentially 'flood') *sometimes*. A common scenario is that a small bit of yutz gets stuck in the valve (in this case, the nipple) and it gets stuck slightly "on"; or a fitting cracks; or that sort of thing.

So you do want to plan for the occasional bedding change-out.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Thanks for the concern.
I sould try to build some kind of a catch can that will drain the water outside. HEMMMMMMM something to think about.
Thanks again.

 

[nancypo]

I have a spare 25 gallon water barrel and I never thought of adding it to the coop. With my layout I could use it as a water storage tank, so I wouldn't have to drag the house around except once a week or so. I can out it under the shady tree and raise onto concrete blocks. We already have 2- 55 gallon rain barrels running off our roof. I don't like nipples persoanlly, as I'd be afraid they'd fail with our really hard water deposits...

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
I started testing then out today with my first bird and when he drinks he doesn't spill any on the floor.
Hard water could be a problem but they do sell stainless steel ones.
Thanks

 

[jeb251]

I have had a nipple system in my double coop for a year I have about 18 chickens total in the coops and I have never had a leak, I put heat tape, insulation and duct tape over that it works great, the only thing I have a problem wit is I didnt put a drain on it and I have hard well water, so I have to pull the last nipple out to drain occaisionally. Other than that, I love it, it is made out of 3" pvc an total is ten feet it holds about 4 gallons, I refill every day so I can be sure they have fresh water all the time, I put three nipples in each coop but really one would have been fine oh well better to be safe than sorry.

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
It's nice to hear some positive responces about these things, It makes me feel a lot better about using them.
When I found them I knew they were for me.

Thanks

 

[Penturner]

There was another thread recently about the water supply not being more than 14 inches higher than the nipples. (That is what is recommended by the manufacturer). In actual practice I have seen lots of designs that exceed that by a factor of 3 or 4 times easily and are reported to work just fine. The nipples I have looked at are designed to work correctly at 1/4 lb of pressure. and yes you do get pressure even from a barrel mounted in the rafters. More pressure causes faster water flow. if it gets to fast the chickens will not be able to drink from it or it will simply dump water on our floor. there is also risk they will simply drip and leak constantly.
As far as silt build up. I will caution you to use utmost care that your hose end is clean every time you fill the barrel. even tiny bits of dirt etc are a pain in the hoo hoo. otherwise if you take care to not introduce dirt there really shouldn't be a lot to worry about.
I was also concerned that the 2X4s would separate once the barrel was full. in fact I searched your comments for evidence that you have actually filled the barrel. water weighs 8 lbs per gal. so just be thinking about that.
If in fact the pressure is to much you can either get a pressure reduction valve as mentioned before. The barrel being in the air will not prevent the reducer from doing it's job. you can also reduce the amount of drop there is in your design to reduce the amount of flow. My bet is it will not be a problem.

Nice use of wasted space. i think the placement of the barrel in the rafters will also help with the freezing issue. It gets much warmer up there than most people realize. If you keep the coop comfortable for your chickens it should be comfortable for the water in your barrel as well.

One final thought I have had concerning any nipple water system is keeping them clean. they are open systems and bacteria will have no problem getting in them. they will grow on everything. so have a way to keep the while thing sanitized. a cap full of bleach in the barrel each time you fill it. or whatever. but have a regular kill the bacteria thing going of one type or another.

I have ordered nipples myself because I am already tired of the chickens kicking litter into the waterer. An open dish is about as unsanitary as it can get. and i like the idea of space savings and easier access to refiling that some designs offer. So even though this may not be perfect. it is definitely an improvement in just about every way to other methods of watering. Try moving a traditional waterer and see if you don't get wet litter. Heck my chicks soak their litter in the water dish lol.

Oh yeah I have read reports that the chickens tend to want to use your pipe as a roost if you don't do something to discourage that.

Oh I did not pay attention to where you are. but if you have earthquakes like we do you want that barrel strapped in place.
All in all I like your design.

 

[Penturner]

Quote:
Nancypo. just to address your concern with hard water. The bright orange nipples are made of Delrin. At least make sure any that you use are. Hard water (minerals) will not stick to Derlin. not even super glue can stick to Delrin. The nipples will leak and drip from small bits of dirt in the water but not from a mineral build up. Now the solid Steel ones (Not Red) will build up deposits. Otherwise the nipples go a long way to address issues of dirty water. less bacterial growth. dirt and bedding is not kicked into it. the birds cannot poop in it. etc. Mainly just wanted to let you know that hard water would not be a problem with Delrin Nipples.

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
My wife is a microbioligst and I'll have he test the water every couple of weeks.

Thanks for the help.

 

[MrRushed]

Quote:
Nancypo. just to address your concern with hard water. The bright orange nipples are made of Delrin. At least make sure any that you use are. Hard water (minerals) will not stick to Derlin. not even super glue can stick to Delrin. The nipples will leak and drip from small bits of dirt in the water but not from a mineral build up. Now the solid Steel ones (Not Red) will build up deposits. Otherwise the nipples go a long way to address issues of dirty water. less bacterial growth. dirt and bedding is not kicked into it. the birds cannot poop in it. etc. Mainly just wanted to let you know that hard water would not be a problem with Delrin Nipples.

Delrin, never heard of it, these thing sound better every day. We'll see if they hold up. I have 2 more free roosters (Rhode Island Reds.) I'm sure they will be smacking em arround.

Thanks for the input.