New Drinker Questions

[lauren56]

I'm hoping I can get the answers I need here since I'm not having luck anywhere else. I've bought a food grade 55 gallon drum and poultry nipples. I've seen pictures and youtube videos of people mounting them directly onto the 55 gallon drum, which is what I would like to do. Although when I try to find some helpful tips, like what to seal them with, I can only find people who run pvc pipe from the barrel into their coops. So if anyone has mounted the nipple drinkers directly to the 55 gallon drum I could really use the insight. What did you seal them with, if at all? Weather you've used them vertical or horizontal. How high off the ground you built your base. And overall how you liked them. Thanks!

 

[cavemanrich]

I am assuming you purchased horizontal nipples.
Here is what you can do and why, and how.
Your barrel has a pretty thick wall. That means that you can thread the openings. You will not need to seal them with anything. You may choose to use some teflon tape on the threads if you do get a slight leak.
Go to local Hardware Store, take one of your nipples with you. Ask for the appropriate pipe tap size tap. Nipples are pipe thread and are tapered like all pipes. Tap may cost you up to $10. It is a small size, so it should be reasonable. Also get the appropriate drill size for that thread size.
Take your time making the thread so it is perpendicular to the surface. When installing the nipples remember not to over-tighten them. You are working with soft plastic. Gently hand tighten until snug.

Depending on number of chicken you have will determine how many nipples to install. The height should be where a chicken can easily reach it. Install them at varying heights if you have different size chickens. You can build a base to desired height. or just leave barrel on ground. (more stable in my opinion). Just because the chickens cant drink the remaining 5 or so gallons at bottom of barrel is not that big of a deal. They had the upper 50 gallons to carry them thru. You will be refilling the water occasionally anyways. On a side note, You may want to add a little ACV , which will also help keep water fresh.

WISHING YOU BEST.......

 

[hillbillyreefer]

The horizontal nipples require an 11/32” hole drilled through the barrel. Then push the nipple in while turning it clockwise and it will thread itself into the barrel and self seal. This works on barrels, 5gal buckets, even 2l pop bottles, with no leaks.

I mount mine at different heights from about 10” to 24” off the ground, that way the birds can decide for themselves what height is most comfortable.

Verticle nipples and horizontal nipples are totally different entities, verticle nipples will not work mounted horizontally.

 

[lauren56]

I want to thank everyone for the great advice. We got it put out in the coop yesterday and it’s working great! Thank you guys so much!