My first shot at a feeder and waterer

[wlnburg]

Since the time change and I work from 6:00-4:30, it is dark when I leave and get back home I needed a way for my flock to get food and water when I was not at home. So, I went to Lowes and just looked around. The attached pictures are what I came up with. The cost was $31.38 plus tax minus PVC glue and cleaner I had and some stainless steel screws I already had for working on my boat.
2" PVC Double WYE $7.18
3"x2" PVC Coupling $3.36
4"x3"WHT PVC S&D coupling $2.58
2" PVC 45 Elbow 2 ea $1.92
1 1/4" SCH 40 Cap $0.72
2" SCH40 Cap 2 Ea $2.54
2"x10' PVC SCH 40 Pipe $6.78
4"x10' SCH S&D Solid Pipe $8.88
$33.96

The blue pipe is Sewer and drain pipe. It is much cheaper and lighter that 4” PVC. That is the reason for to couplings to get from 2” to 4”. The 1¼” cap is placed in the center to serve as a diverter. I could not find anything that was cheap and would fit. I wrapped it with a rubber band to center the plug and attach the plug with stainless screws. I also attached the blue pipe with 3 stainless screws just in case it gets stopped up.

Once the diverter is in place, I glued the rest together. I measured the 4”pipe so it would stick out the top of the run and attached the screws to the 4” pipe.

Here is the completed feeder.

I built a roof using .070 plastic that stock car racers use for skirts or nose extensions. I bent the plastic in a sheet metal brake and built legs of PVC and PVC T’s.

I am also attaching a picture of the water I built using, cup waters, some PVC, clear tubing and a 2 gallon igloo thermos I bought at Lowes. I unscrewed the nozzle and replaced it with a nipple pipe thread and a plastic electrical bushing nut. Now I can water and feed anytime. I use the scoop to cover the pipe.

The chickens took right to it. I just bump it a couple times spread the food.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

That's nifty!

Rusty

 

[kuntrygirl]

Great job!!!

 

[gnatboy911]

looks awesome. Have you noticed much feed waste with your feeder? With the feeder use, I have a problem with the chickens slinging food everywhere with their beaks. I was thinking about building something very similar to yours with the smaller holes cut out for them to access the feed. My thought was that with the holes and not the trough style feeder it might cut back on the amount of feed strewn around the run and not eaten.

thanks and again, great job on the feeder.

Gnatboy911

 

[wlnburg]

I have only been using it for a week but I think I am seeing less feed used. I was just pouring it on the ground and was probably feeding to much. I did notice that when they were scratching they were kicking the food outside the pin. This seems to allow them to only get a beak full. Time will tell. I just wanted to be sure they had food if I got home late and they were already inside roosting.

 

[Ole rooster]

I do think I would raise it about 10 inches. I have my feeder about that high up and get no waste at all. But they do eat about 3 lbs a week with free range all day. That's for 8 chickens.

 

[daver]

You are pretty handy with PVC!!