please help me so confused

[MelissaTXRn]

What rich said!!! I ended up lowering my cooler because it didn't need to be very high at all. Just a little higher than the nipples.

 

[LoneOak]

Here's a couple pictures of my 55 gal drum that feeds my horizontal nipples. The secret to using the drum is being able to lay it on its side and using both bung holes to attach your pipes to. If it has a sealed lid and you can't remove the top how are you going to attach an outlet pipe and not have it leak?


This is just after I installed it 10 years ago. The small black hose on the lower right feeds the waterers.


It has weathered some but basically still looks the same.

Your air hole doesn't have to be on the side, it can be in the top-if the drum is standing up-, it just has to be higher than the highest water level. If you have some way to attach an outlet pipe with the drum standing up you could put your air hole in the bung plugs in the top. Both of my bung plugs have 3/4" pipe thread inside them and if this is what you want then you have to look around for it but they can be had. Most drums only have threads in one of the plugs and not the other.

If you can't get electricity to it with your New York winters then I have no idea how you can keep it from freezing other than to drain it and use something else during freezing weather.

I have the black pipe transitioning to pvc before the nipples are installed. Here is a single one on the side of my coop, I have three more on the front.

 

[MelissaTXRn]

I used clear tubing because I wanted to visualize the water going to the coop. Paranoid I guess. Haha

 

[MelissaTXRn]

When I move it to our new run (probably next week) I will take better pictures.

 

[Rich386]

I drilled a small hole at the top of the cooler, I wasn't sure if it needed one or not. It is very small, nothing can get in or out but air.

You just need a small vent so it dosen't form a vacume.

 

[MelissaTXRn]

Gosh, I am smart! Lol I had a not-so blonde moment hahaa

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Well, it's because of those reasons that I have hesitated on getting nipples. I'd hate to come home from work and find that my peeps haven't been able to drink. But it's no different than dirty water or clogged drainage holes. The reason I'm leaning toward that brite tap device is that you can see water in the reservoir. Still looking around to see what's best. What ever I choose I will still be in the coop making sure the peeps and equipment is working.

@chynasparks -- you asked in a comment for a picture of the waterers I use. They are the common kind that you can get at TSC. They fill from the top. They are not meant for hanging. i set mine on concrete blocks and they have served me well. I had one that developed a crack in the black top but you can buy replacement tops. Like I said, I don't like the nipples, my chickens seem not to get enough water and they drink a lot more out of the traditional waterers. Besides that, they destroyed the nipples in about 2 months and the whole contraption leaked badly. I'm not going back to them.

waterer on Amazon

Here's a picture

 

[4 the Birds]

+1

Love this top access waterer. I need to get a couple. Mine are all the bottom twist type that are cumbersome to fill. Hopefully TSC has a heated version of it as well.

 

[chynasparks]

Thanks for the picture. This is the exact waterer I'm going to get today. Yes I have to try yet another waterer. I've got to get this waterer issue resolved before I go back to work (school bus driver) I currently have the double walked bucket. Water isn't filling back up in the trough. I've examined the hole, not plugged, I've examined the cork, that mechanism seems to be in line. I've been watching this for days now. Water goes down real low and doesn't fill back up. I've made sure it was level too. So back to the store I go. They sell it at my local store. I hate to keep throwing $$ at this but my girls are worth it. It got real hot yesterday here in Texas, mouths were open, wings spread. I ran for a fan and ice for the water. They are fine this morning. At least with this new one I can top it off with ice easily. Thank you

 

[LoneOak]

Quote: If you can't get the double walled galvanized fount to work send it to me and I'll mail you a check for $20 plus half of the shipping. I'll save it for those few freezing days I get in the winter.

Really there is no reason why your double walled fount shouldn't work. If the water drops below the opening on the inside bucket, where the spring lever and cork or rubber stopper is, the trough should then refill until it covers that hole. The water should really remain at the height of the opening, as water drops air enters and more water drops. It is the same science as was explained about the water bottle earlier.