Vacation feeders/waterers/coop!?!?! (PVC feeder & waterer advice)

[Wolf-Kim]

Awesome feeder, I will definately have to look into that style. It would probably be easier to lift and dump a 50# bag into that, than a 4-6" pipe.

I also like the PVC and hopper(like the one shown) feeders because they hang from the wall. My coop is about 6X10, but the original owner built the nest boxes like a shelf all down the 10' wall and down one 6' wall. So you can imagine that this nestbox design takes up a lot of space and is rather in effective as a nestbox. I plan to tear that out and replace is with a smaller bookcase style nestbox. By making the nestboxes into a unit of boxes 4 boxes wide 3 boxes down, I'll regain quite a bit more space in the coop. Leaving more room for an improved roost system, and large hopper feeder, a PVC oystershell dispenser, and an auto waterer or two.

I got to looking at the autowaterers at TSC today, and realized that I had 2-5 autocup waterers from my quail pen left over. So I can put those up AND the dogbowl style autowaterer, that way if one fails the other is still available. I would also do both, because of the ducks, the cup style waterers aren't too deep, so I don't think they are deep enough for the ducks.

I'm getting pretty excited about it all. The chicken coop is getting a make-over.

 

[Burbs]

I know it doesn't look like it, but this one is hung from the wall also. Sounds like your well on your way to making it work for you. If you want more specifics on how to put it together let me know.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Congrats on your new venture!

I hope the set up works for you. BUT being the mom of children who went a way to college /on to their professional lives and left their dogs/cats with us "until" they could get settled----IT's REALLY hard to work, go to school, have a social life and continue to go back and forth on a regular basis!! Every few days turned into once a week, once a week turned into twice a month....spending less and less time with the animals they loved on each visit. We have had two of the dogs for 12yrs now, we have buried three dogs and two of their cats. We have paid vet bills, food bills,(our feed bill for dogs alone is 200+ a month and take care of them 100% because I didn't have the heart to re home them....

I just wanted to give you another point of view... The ones left behind...Dixie

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I 'll take a pic of my PVC feeder for you this weekend. I have it for my Bobwhites but as soon as I get a bit of extra $$ I'm gonna build one for my chickens. I just love it!!

2ft section of 4in, a piece that goes around the 4in but ends as a 2in (a funnel? not sure what they call it) couple of 60* elbows, couple of 2in sections, 2in plug and 4in cap. The section that is used for feeding is about 1 1/2 ft with 4 1 1/2 inch holes cut in it for access to the feed. It's in an open run so I use an old mailbox over it. You could run it inside of a coop too.

Not surehow much it holds but it's enough to feed 25 Bobwhites for a little over a week. The cap fits snug enough that I really don't worry about predators getting in. Plus I've screwed a peice of strapping tape across the back of it and screwed it into the run at 2 points (that is, unless a bear shows up!!

)

 

[My Little Sister's Farm]

I am buying a 32 gal garbage can with locking handles and lid. Drilling holes all the way aroung that are 1 inch in diameter. About 10 holes will work best I think. Then I'm going to use a water hearter pan (I think that's what they are) they are at the hardware/home improvement store and are basically metal pans that are 18" or so in diameter and have a 2" lip so feed won't spill. Should hold close to 200 lbs of feed I think.

I'd suggest makeing watering or feed a daily thing for them, but automized the other. I suggest large feeder because too much water and you get lots of in the summer you get scum, in the winter you get ice, it leaks, spills, runs out, etc.

Better to give them something to do everyday than to let them think - eh she'll be home in a few days.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Good. The pic had a red cast on the walls. I know what OSB is, but the walls seemed, well, reddish, like what you put in a cedar closeet.

 

[trilyn]

I made my own waterers out of plastic milk jugs and the poultry waterer nipples from tek supply. I couldn't stand changing the water 3 or more x's per day. I use organic acv and that stuff gets expensive after a while! Also, my biggest concern was clean water available for them at all times. I wanted something that they couldn't roost on or I could cover with a roost so no feces could get into it. I searched online and saw all the poultry cup waterers, and also the water mizer. I liked the concept of the water mizer, but no way in heck was I going to pay 34.00 for a dollar store drink pitcher and a nipple! So I did some searching and this is the link to tek supply

http://www.teksupply.com/farm/suppl...&division=TekSupply&pageId=ItemDetail&isDoc=N

All I did was use a plastic milk jug, drilled a hole the appropriate size, make sure you don't drill(if you decide to do this)on the lines on the bottom of the jug, drill on a smooth flat surface, no leaks. I used the push in nipple with the grommet and ordered more grommets. Hope this helps or gives you an idea! I still use acv, not too worried about rusting, it is stainless steel and yes, I know it will rust eventually, but they're cheap enough that I can replace them when needed. My chicks are 8 weeks and younger and absolutely love them, took to the like a duck to water!! hehehe

P.S. cost for 5 waterers came to 4.00 apiece. The jugs are free after you drink the milk of course, and the nipples and grommets with s&h came to roughly 20.00. Not too bad for piece of mind imo. Oh, and leave the cap loose or drill a small hole on top by the cap for water to flow easily. Also, I don't know how they'll be with ducks, I imagine they would be able to use it too, but I don't know-I don't have duckies!!

!

 

[Burbs]

Here is a drawing. Keep in mind that drafting was never my strong suit. I think all of the details are there. Just let me know if you have any questions.

One thing I did forget is that the hinge plate is cut on a 45 degree angle lengthwise to allow for the lid to swing open on the hinge.

Good luck.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

If the chickens can stand or perch on the automatic waterer, it will get filthy. I tried using a dog waterer from walmart, but they stand in it to cool their legs and of course, it got all mucked up every day.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

The drawing was very helpful! I look forward to using those plans in the coop, when I redo it. Thanks a ton Burbs! Sorry I was so slow to respond, it's been hectic here!

Arizona, if I was going to use the autowaterer, it would be on a cinderblock in the corner of the coop with dogwire(2x4 rectangle wire fence) in front of it. I know I couldn't just use a plain waterer because the ducks and chickens would be in it before it even had a chance to fill up! LOL

-Kim