outdoor watering ideas needed

[pattgal]

I am looking for some new and easy ideas on watering. we have some ideas but i need some inspiration
Ive read the page on here where they give ideas for automatic watering. but not much pictures so its not much help
I need ideas for my meat coop, all i know is they will be fed and watered outdoors since they won't see the winter. the hens will be fed and watered indoors since they are in a more permanent residence and will be wintering with us.

my husband is toying around with the idea of putting a 55 Gallon (barrel) up on the rafters of the shed and have the water come down to the chickens automatically. he would do this with nipples and pvc pipping. and the water would be fed into the barrel with the outdoor hose. seems nice in theory but there is the problem of freezing in the winter, and the fact that only one half will be used all year long.

so will the other half need to be shut down while not in use?

For heating the water to keep it from freezing i had th eidea of putting an aquarium heater in the water because i don't feel safe mixing with electricity and water (lightbub in a bucket of water idea) and aquarium heaters are submergeable anyway. How do i combine my heating idea with something so big? and will my little heater actually supply 55 Gallons of cold water

how do we know if our rafters can support that much weight

Would it be easier to just get a regular old plastic container for the meats?? I don't have anywhere to hang it so we would most likely put it on bricks
(they are really messy right now in the coop because their run isn't done and our current temporary watering system isn't working and its driving me nuts how much they stink)
any ideas are appreciated, and pictures are definitely helpful

 

[mandalitten]

The problem with the rainwater barrel is that the water will go stale. It's a better idea to hook it up to your house for fresh water and use a toilet fill valve and 5 gal bucket. You can use a aquarium heater, but many just use a light bulb. You don't submerse the bulb, so you don't have to worry about electricity in water. You also get the added advantage of light in the winter when the days are short.
Here is a nice link https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4655-Auto_Waterer

Here are some more ideas:
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=182
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/front.asp

Here is a good overview
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultry_equipment.html#water

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
That is a really good website. I liked this one in particular
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=194

but your first link would work better for winter, as for the hose freezing problem i would just hook up another 5 gallon outside the coop and fill it manually from the outside. that would be my only modification. just so long as i don't have to go inside and disrupt the peace.

 

[bturbo87]

it will take a little bit of parts but ive seen one on here, that im planning on trying in a while. firstly run a hose that can be on constantly to you coop, get a five gallon bucket, and install the standard three nipple waterers. get a toilet tank float valve that will fit into the bucket, and attach to the bottom of the bucket(so that the setup looks like the inside of your toilet tank. hook it up to the hose and turn on the water. the toilet float valve will keep it constantly full, as the chickens drink throughout the day, when you need to clean it, turn off the water, unhook the hose from the bottom of the bucket, and flip it over so the water doesnt pour out everywhere while your leaving the coop.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
That is a really good website. I liked this one in particular
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=194

but your first link would work better for winter, as for the hose freezing problem i would just hook up another 5 gallon outside the coop and fill it manually from the outside. that would be my only modification. just so long as i don't have to go inside and disrupt the peace.

Too bad they don't ship to Canada!!!!

 

[mandalitten]

I am sure there are similar stores in Canada. Check out any farm store, they should have everything you need.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
we only have one where we live. I haven't seen anything but the typical plastic waterers and some water fountains. they didn't even know what a nipple was and gave me weird looks.
my best bet is online for these is online. i'll try to see if i can find any other supliers that will ship to Canada

 

[vatterpa]

make sure you have enough support! that is going to weight a ton, like 400 lbs

 

[obxWaMi]

Either my husband or I go out every morning and dump, rinse and refill a dishpan for our girls. Actually it is one of those dishpan looking containers you get as a patient in the hospital. I think it's meant to be for taking a sponge bath. Anyway, it works. We have those waterers that you fill, screw the lid on and turn them over, but they took too long to empty and wash. Besides, dirt got kicked in them, they got perched on and pooped in, etc. The dishpan has sides that are tall enough to keep dirt out of them but they are low enough for the girls to get a drink.

Another added benefit of these containers...they are cheap! We get them at the thrift store. So, if they break we just throw them away and start with a new one.

 

[MrRushed]

I did a 30 gal watering system, it works great. I love the nipples.

I have it hooked up to an outside spickit and fill it from a hose, I change the water every 2 weeks even though I could go much longer.