Pasture tractor - water question

[fishpick]

In sorta following the model put forth by Joel Salatin for pasture raising broilers - I'm constructing the pen (tractor) this week... but I have come up with a question that would not be unique to any tractor design.

Having the 5 gallon waterer inside the pen - obviously I want to have a bucket on top with a line down to the waterer (and if you have read his book he shows that - makes sense for quick water refills) - BUT - if there is a 5 gallon bucket on top with a water line running down to the waterer inside the pen - what - exactly - prevents the whole thing from draining out?

Or in this system is there a stopcock I'm missing and you are supposed to fill the 5 gallon bucket on top - open the valve when some runs onto the ground - but you are filling faster than loss into the waterer... Which seems to not be too efficient.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

check out this post
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4369

 

[fishpick]

OK - I checked out the post - and those look "cool" - but I don't think the water pressure from a 5 gallon bucket on top of it will allow it to function - and plumed in water isn't an option in the pasture... nor is a 55 gallon drum to move on top of the tractor...

Hasn't anyone done the Salatin method and figured out what the 5 gallon bucket on top does?

 

[patandchickens]

AFAIK it's plumbed into a gravity-pressure type waterer. WHether it is the one linked to, I don't know, but one of them. Make sure you get one designed to run off GRAVITY feed (very low pressure) not regular waterline pressure.

Pat

 

[GallowayFarms]

OK. This is what he uses in his moveable pens.

It is called a bell waterer.

What i did was use 3 gallon rubber pan you can get at a feed store and made a shelf for it to sit on in the corner of the pen. Then you put a valve on the end of the hose going to the 5 gallon bucket to fill the pan either through the side or the top if your top is open.

I also made a two foot door on my roof all the way across that was I just flip the door up and I have access to the feed and the water pretty easily.

If you have any questions send me a pm and I will be glad to help.

just do a good search for bell waterer to find places that sell them and info about them

Good Luck

Nick