My PVC "True Auto" Waterer

[Zootopia]

We have 60+/- in 4 yards, 3 pens and free range. We have been using the 5 gal plastic waterers, but as the flock has grown and the summer comes it will be hard to keep up. We had been looking into a design using the same nipples but a barrel reservoir that would need to be filled with a hose every couple days. This would be perfect . DH has already printed it out and is making notes to fit our structures.
Thanks for sharing

 

[speedy2020]

I was thinking about the same path as your at one point, but end up using 55gal barrel instead. The water do freeze here during winter. With 55gal barrel, I can put the submersible aquarium heater.

 

[Ole rooster]

My question is does the nipples have to have 60 or so lbs of pressure on them to work. Can the water come from a 5 gal bucket?

 

[Dukeofhawg]

No the nipples do not need any pressure other than gravity. As long as your water source is above the nipples, your mother cluckers will be drinking without a problem. Just be sure you have a hole in the lid of the bucket so you don't get a vacuum.

 

[2Old2Crow]

That's better than waaaaay cool! I was designing/thinking about a similar system, but I was gonna use a 5 gallon bucket. Now I'm concerned the bucket might make the water too hot during the summer. I'm also on a well, so I would have to incorporate a filter. Regardless, great design. Thanx for posting it here.

 

[scratchypants]

Thanks for the write-up. I am concerned about giardia, though. I would do everything you did except instead of capping the ends I would add valves to the end of the runs so that the system could be flushed.

 

[twinzmom]

We finished our auto waterer today using your design! Thanks so much!
We actually are running 2 waterers off the same system, 1 for the outside of the coop and 1 runs inside.
The only change we had to make was to find a different fitting for the bulk head fitting, we do not have anything like swamp coolers around here....but we found something that works for us. This took us only about 1 hour to put together and then the girls now have all the water they could possibly want. Thanks again for doing all the prep work for us.

There is so much great info on this site, it has made it so much easier to get it all together for our girls.

 

[calamityfarm]

I just set up a 5 gallon bucket with nipples. How do you get the birds to drink from it? Any secrets? BTW I built a very tall but not wide sawhorse to hold it.

 

[Desert Chickens]

Thanks for the compliments and the suggestions everybody. Glad people can make use of it. It's been flawless for about a month now.

 

[Dukeofhawg]

Calamityfarm,

Just go over and mess with it, those girls are curious, I guaranty they will figure it out.