Making your own horizontal nipple waterer

[wamtazlady]

I have a dozen chickens and use horizontal nipples. My container is a clear tote with lid, 10-15 gallons. The water lasts my chickens a week. It's easy to see when it needs filled. With a stock tank deicer it is a perfect set up for winter. Water stayed thawed even when it was -22 F. If I had more chickens I'd just get a larger tote.

 

[paneubert]

I have 30+ quail and they have 5 nipples to drink from. Never a crowd. Also, mysteriously, my 5 gallon "semi-clear" bucket has shown no signs of any algae growth, while my "semi-clear" classic type of waterers that I used before grew algae like crazy.....no idea why. And I fill the 5 gallon a LOT less than I was filling the smaller waterers, so the water is sitting longer. It makes no sense, but I am not going to complain!

 

[Toothpick]

I'm thinking I'll do the 5 gal buckets. Maybe two. Since between the run and the coop there will be such a large space.

I'm using the gravity fed one from TSC now. It does get a decent amount of algae growth. I just wipe it out with my hand every filling.

 

[DrFeathers]

I have a 5 gal food grade bucket with 2 horizontal nipples and a second 2 gal bucket with one nipple (because I like having back ups).

With winter approaching here in Long Island, NY: I am about to order the "K&H Ultimate 250-watt Pail Heater with No Floater Cord" off Amazon for $30. any thoughts on this if you all have used one? too much for that size bucket or just right?

 

[LVVCHAP]

What height do you install the nipples?

 

[DrFeathers]

What height do you install the nipples?

Nipples are about 1.5-2” from the bottom, but with the heater I wish they were 3” from the bottom so I didn’t have to worry about the top of heating element coming above water surface if it runs to bottom.