Need help with my nipple watering system

[happyhens120]

Hi Y'all...
My husband just rigged our coop up with a new watering system using the screw in chicken nipples. I've used these before on some hanging waterers, but my gals drain the one gallon setup we have so darn quickly that I thought rigging a new system would be better.

He attached a flexible pipe to a 5 gal bucket which gravity feeds a 1" pvc pipe that has 6 waterers screwed in and sealed. Two days in a row, the darn thing leaked completely out. There is no signs of leakage from the 5 gal. bucket, but it all just drips out from the nipples. They are sealed so it's not leaking out around the nipples, but from the nipples themselves. The only thing I can guess is that it's leaking because the pipe they are in is at an angle... so the nipples are at a 45 degree angle right now.

Anybody had any trouble like this before? Maybe the nipples need to be straight up and down so they don't leak? That's how my hanging waterer is, and like I said, I've never had any trouble before.

I'm attaching a picture of the setup in case that would help. It's hard to see the angles of the nipples in these, though...

Thank you!

 

[texas75563]

Hi happyhens! Did you notice them leaking when you 1st added water to them? Sometimes the nipples will stick when you 1st add waer or later if a little trash gets in there. Usually you can just mash the nipple in and out a couple times real quick and they will seal off.

 

[happyhens120]

We did try that... let out a lot of air it seemed and then they seemed ok for a little while, but apparently when we weren't looking (go figure!) all the water just dripped out.

 

[Hawgon]

I am new at this also, but I was told the nipples must be vertically up and down and not at an angle. The seal as the nipple falls straight down into the seat and it wont do that if it is at any kind of an angle or if debris is caught in it.....Someone with more experience might be able to elaborate or have another idea or correct me......I have 3 in my chick brooder and 4 in my coop and no leakage....(2 screw in and 5 push-in style) all with no leaks (I am knocking on wood right now...lol)...Good luck

 

[happyhens120]

Ok, I was thinking that might be the culprit. I love the system, just can't have 5 gallons of water soaking up the wood shavings in the coop. Looks like hubby has a job tomorrow!

Should be an easy fix if he just cuts the pipe and rotates it so all the nipples are vertical. Thank you!