Need help with PVC feeder

[Headchicken]

Hello all! Thanks to this wonderful forum, I've built a PVC feeder from 4" PVC with a 60 degree elbow. The feeder works well, but I'm having moisture problems! At first it started with the feed sprouting (I know sprouts are good, but this is ridiculous!), then that progressed to a big mold problem. It is of note that I'm in Florida, where the heat and humidity are constant from April to November, so I need to get this figured out!

I am going to caulk the upright tube to the elbow in hopes of keeping rainwater from sliding in. I also have an umbrella over the trough to keep the feed dry.

What else can I do? I know you all have the answers I seek!

Thanks!
Jen

 

[BlueLagoonRabbitry]

Great Idea, I love your coop/run it so hidden edan looking.

 

[valentinebaby]

It looks to me like the moisture or rain could run down the part that's on the outside and potentially get into the feed. I'd try moving the whole thing in under the shelter and see if that helps.

 

[Headchicken]

I can't move it under the shelter because it needs to be accessable from the outside for my neighbor when we're gone on vacation. We have a lot of predators, so the girls will be in the "vacation condo" without any free-ranging while we're gone. Once I attach the coop to the condo (via the open door), it has to stay attached until we return. With the feeder access outside, our neighbor can add feed if needed when he's checking for eggs and giving fresh water every day.

There is a lip where the elbow meets the upright pipe-- that's where I'm going to caulk. That lip also helps divert the water from moving down to the trough.

The trouble lies inside the upright tube-- the trough part didn't get moldy. The sprouting occured in the elbow and the mould occured above the feed in the upright.

Any thoughts?

 

[zavierchick]

We have those same type of pvc lids on our irrigation ditches and they don't seal very well (we always have a little leaking water when the ditch is full) Maybe try running a strip of weather stripping on the inside top of the lid? Or a really big washer? (I have no idea if there is such a thing as a washer that big LOL!)

And on a side note, I love the look there, too - very secret garden-ish

 

[davidr]

If you can't move the feeder inside the coop, a simple awning over the feeder fill end will shed the water.


David

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I have a PVC feeder for my quail. I use an old mailbox to cover the area were they feed. You may consider putting drip ring or something on the fill tube. you could use a frisbee with a hole cut so that it fit over the pipe and then caulk it to the pipe-up close to the fencing.

 

[Headchicken]

OK-- that's nothing short of brilliant!

Thanks for the frisbee idea!!!!!

 

[WitksChicks]

Quote:
What about the rubber seal for a canning jar, could that be stretched enought to fit - in place of a washer? Just trying to be creative to solve the leak.