My new feeders and waterers :)

[BarnyardChaos]

Love seeing this! Definitely going to cut down on your work load.
Was there a particular reason you went with cups for the waterer instead of nipples? Just a preference or do you find they work better?

I've never tried the nipples. I do have a small set, and may set that up for one of the chick brooder/coops. I've just heard how they leak and drip, so I've been skeptical.

 

[Quackersmccoy]

I just wanted to share my recent project of upgrading the chickens' waterers and feeders with everyone! I've just become weary of dragging feeders into and out of the coop twice a day (I don't like to feed racoons), and refilling waterers that leak, for 40 chickens - and I've got a bunch of youngsters coming along to go into another pen and coop. So finally, I ordered the parts and put them together. Two each for the big run, one for the cockerels. (I still keep a feed trough in the big run, in case the roosters object to sticking their heads into the feeder ports. Watching them to be sure none are refused access to it.)

Here's one of the feeders (oops! I see now I forgot to close one of the latches). I used a tote that is water-tight around the lid with a rubber seal. It holds about 70-80 pounds of feed I think. The ports have a cap that inserts fairly tight into the holes to secure it at night:

The port holes in these are 4-inches in diameter.

For the waterers, I used 5-gallon buckets with airtight lids that have a spout in the top and a screw-on cap. Makes it easy to fill with a garden hose and keeps water clean at all times. I just need to wipe out the cups once a day or so. (FYI I drilled a small air-hole near the top):

In this photo below, you can see my smaller "Schoolhouse" and "Nursery" coops in the background. Both have growing chicks inside. And the front end of the "Big Coop" where all the mature chickens live:

Anyway, I just wanted to share with someone, since my husband doesn't seem much interested

. He just enjoys the breakfast and dinner the chickens provide.

Thanks for following my stories! (@LhickenChicken might be interested in this.)

What a great post if been trying to think of what i can di to feed and water the chickens without the rats geting to eat as well do you think this would work for me do you think its rat proof ?

 

[Quackersmccoy]

What a great post if been trying to think of what i can di to feed and water the chickens without the rats geting to eat as well do you think this would work for me do you think its rat proof ?

 

[leelorisc]

I just wanted to share my recent project of upgrading the chickens' waterers and feeders with everyone! I've just become weary of dragging feeders into and out of the coop twice a day (I don't like to feed racoons), and refilling waterers that leak, for 40 chickens - and I've got a bunch of youngsters coming along to go into another pen and coop. So finally, I ordered the parts and put them together. Two each for the big run, one for the cockerels. (I still keep a feed trough in the big run, in case the roosters object to sticking their heads into the feeder ports. Watching them to be sure none are refused access to it.)

Here's one of the feeders (oops! I see now I forgot to close one of the latches). I used a tote that is water-tight around the lid with a rubber seal. It holds about 70-80 pounds of feed I think. The ports have a cap that inserts fairly tight into the holes to secure it at night:

The port holes in these are 4-inches in diameter.

For the waterers, I used 5-gallon buckets with airtight lids that have a spout in the top and a screw-on cap. Makes it easy to fill with a garden hose and keeps water clean at all times. I just need to wipe out the cups once a day or so. (FYI I drilled a small air-hole near the top):

In this photo below, you can see my smaller "Schoolhouse" and "Nursery" coops in the background. Both have growing chicks inside. And the front end of the "Big Coop" where all the mature chickens live:

Anyway, I just wanted to share with someone, since my husband doesn't seem much interested

. He just enjoys the breakfast and dinner the chickens provide.

Thanks for following my stories! (@LhickenChicken might be interested in this.)

Where did you order the blue ports for the feeder? I haven't seen ones with caps to close them off.

 

[kmk]

I just wanted to share my recent project of upgrading the chickens' waterers and feeders with everyone! I've just become weary of dragging feeders into and out of the coop twice a day (I don't like to feed racoons), and refilling waterers that leak, for 40 chickens - and I've got a bunch of youngsters coming along to go into another pen and coop. So finally, I ordered the parts and put them together. Two each for the big run, one for the cockerels. (I still keep a feed trough in the big run, in case the roosters object to sticking their heads into the feeder ports. Watching them to be sure none are refused access to it.)

Here's one of the feeders (oops! I see now I forgot to close one of the latches). I used a tote that is water-tight around the lid with a rubber seal. It holds about 70-80 pounds of feed I think. The ports have a cap that inserts fairly tight into the holes to secure it at night:

The port holes in these are 4-inches in diameter.

For the waterers, I used 5-gallon buckets with airtight lids that have a spout in the top and a screw-on cap. Makes it easy to fill with a garden hose and keeps water clean at all times. I just need to wipe out the cups once a day or so. (FYI I drilled a small air-hole near the top):

In this photo below, you can see my smaller "Schoolhouse" and "Nursery" coops in the background. Both have growing chicks inside. And the front end of the "Big Coop" where all the mature chickens live:

Anyway, I just wanted to share with someone, since my husband doesn't seem much interested

. He just enjoys the breakfast and dinner the chickens provide.

Thanks for following my stories! (@LhickenChicken might be interested in this.)

Bravo! Thanks for sharing.

 

[RoyalChick]

I just wanted to share my recent project of upgrading the chickens' waterers and feeders with everyone! I've just become weary of dragging feeders into and out of the coop twice a day (I don't like to feed racoons), and refilling waterers that leak, for 40 chickens - and I've got a bunch of youngsters coming along to go into another pen and coop. So finally, I ordered the parts and put them together. Two each for the big run, one for the cockerels. (I still keep a feed trough in the big run, in case the roosters object to sticking their heads into the feeder ports. Watching them to be sure none are refused access to it.)

Here's one of the feeders (oops! I see now I forgot to close one of the latches). I used a tote that is water-tight around the lid with a rubber seal. It holds about 70-80 pounds of feed I think. The ports have a cap that inserts fairly tight into the holes to secure it at night:

The port holes in these are 4-inches in diameter.

For the waterers, I used 5-gallon buckets with airtight lids that have a spout in the top and a screw-on cap. Makes it easy to fill with a garden hose and keeps water clean at all times. I just need to wipe out the cups once a day or so. (FYI I drilled a small air-hole near the top):

In this photo below, you can see my smaller "Schoolhouse" and "Nursery" coops in the background. Both have growing chicks inside. And the front end of the "Big Coop" where all the mature chickens live:

Anyway, I just wanted to share with someone, since my husband doesn't seem much interested

. He just enjoys the breakfast and dinner the chickens provide.

Thanks for following my stories! (@LhickenChicken might be interested in this.)

Nice job!

 

[Borders3]

The ports have a cap that inserts fairly tight into the holes to secure it at night:

Won't that be a pain in the butt to go out every night to close it, then having to go out and open every morning?
I know for a fact, you can guarantee, I would forget one or the other, they would be open for the rats or left with starving chickens. I start work at 6a.m. so would be left with starving birds. Myself, I bought two of the galvanised Treadle feeders from Flyte So Fancy a company in Wales, I fill them, then just open the lid periodically when egg collecting to see how much is in, then refill as and when needed.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

What a great post if been trying to think of what i can di to feed and water the chickens without the rats geting to eat as well do you think this would work for me do you think its rat proof ?

Yes, I think it would be. At least I hope so. I don't know how determined they are to chew through the tote, or smart enough to chew a cap off.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Where did you order the blue ports for the feeder? I haven't seen ones with caps to close them off.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8S54P6V?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&tag=backy-20
There were several designs on Amazon, many with caps to close the ports, and come with the hole saw as well. I had bought a different set, 3-1/2" diameter, and discovered it is TOO SMALL for my roosters. These blue/green ones are about 4" so it works better. There are a couple of others of this size, but this one is the least expensive and works just fine.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Won't that be a pain in the butt to go out every night to close it, then having to go out and open every morning?
I know for a fact, you can guarantee, I would forget one or the other, they would be open for the rats or left with starving chickens. I start work at 6a.m. so would be left with starving birds. Myself, I bought two of the galvanised Treadle feeders from Flyte So Fancy a company in Wales, I fill them, then just open the lid periodically when egg collecting to see how much is in, then refill as and when needed.

Yes, it's a bit of a bother to close the ports every night and open them every morning - but not nearly so bothersome as filling and dragging four trough feeders in and out of the coop twice a day. I didn't want a treadle feeder because of raccoons and opossums, both of which get into our run regularly at night. If a chicken can operate it, they surely can, too.

I needed something predator proof, rainproof even when open during the day, and easy to manage. I don't work away from home, so it's unlikely I'd forget to open or close the feeder ports since I have to open and close their pop door and check waterers twice a day, anyway. The tote and feeder ports fit the bill for my setup.

Now, if I could just remember to latch the gate open when I let them out to range, so the wind doesn't blow it closed (like two days ago) ..... then I wouldn't go out at dusk to lock up and find 40 panicked chickens pacing around the run fencing and at the closed gate. LOL