PVC chicken feeder that's safe for roosters

[aart]

PVC or Lead are basically your choices for pipes moving water around in your house

Well, most the water pipes in my house are copper(circa 1976).

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I noticed that my roosters were injuring their combs and wattles on the feeder I made with a 3" PVC elbow. There just wasn't enough room for them to get everything in without rubbing on the edge. So I added a 4" PVC elbow, and everything's now OK. They will only use that one. It costs twice as much as a 3", but I had to do it.

 

[Kusanar]

Well, most the water pipes in my house are copper(circa 1976).

True, but if the outdoor pipes are the same age, they are likely lead.

 

[aart]

True, but if the outdoor pipes are the same age, they are likely lead.

Could be, I'm on a well.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I noticed that my roosters were injuring their combs and wattles on the feeder I made with a 3" PVC elbow. There just wasn't enough room for them to get everything in without rubbing on the edge. So I added a 4" PVC elbow, and everything's now OK. They will only use that one. It costs twice as much as a 3", but I had to do it.

View attachment 1207952

I was thinking about a 4" pipe for the feeder. So no problems whatsoever?

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Could be, I'm on a well.

Doubt they're lead. If metal, probably galvanized.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I was thinking about a 4" pipe for the feeder. So no problems whatsoever?

No problems. With the 3" they had blood on their waddles and comb from banging against the edge. Once I went to 4" that went away. They can really bury their heads in the 4" elbow. Not sure what you're planning, but I used a street 90 elbow. A 4" cost me $10 - I almost choked. That was twice what a 3" was.

 

[Sublight]

PVC pipes are used for potable(drinkable) water for humans.
Never cared for the PVC feeders tho, they can still rake feed out of them and large combs are a problem.

This PVC application works for me, I need to update pics, this was during prototyping, it now hangs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder.67218/

Do something like this. I use a 3 gallon and a 5 gallon bucket from home depot. It works like a CHAMP!
The 5 gallon bucket acts like the hopper, and the 3 gallon bucket has the large holes cut out and a piece of PVC just like this going through the middle. I have only 1 cut out spot though. It spills almost NO food. And my jerk rooster likes it.

 

[aart]

Do something like this. I use a 3 gallon and a 5 gallon bucket from home depot. It works like a CHAMP!
The 5 gallon bucket acts like the hopper, and the 3 gallon bucket has the large holes cut out and a piece of PVC just like this going through the middle. I have only 1 cut out spot though. It spills almost NO food. And my jerk rooster likes it.

Got a pic?

 

[henless]

I put 4" pvc street elbows on my bucket feeder for my Cream Legbars. Most of the roosters have massive combs, but they had no problems using the 4" ones. When I made my tote feeder, I used the same size elbows. If they make a 5", I don't see why you can't use one of those. I love this tote. It holds 50lbs of feed.



For water, I use horizontal nipples in a 5 gallon bucket. I use a cookie tin water heater to keep it from freezing. But, I live in Texas, so we don't have days on end with sub zero temps either.