Vertical (gravity) vs. horizontal (spring loaded) watering nipples

[pdirt]

Here's my new waterer! I panicked when I drilled the holes because I accidentally tilted the drill and made one of them wonky but I saved it with some silicone.

I saw one of my birds pecking at the nipple before I even got back in the house.

Nice job! That's a nice bucket too, with a Gamma lid.

Those Gamma lids can seal pretty well, so be sure you have a small air vent so when the water level drops, it doesn't cause a vacuum lock inside, which will make it impossible for the birds to get water out. Rather than drilling a hole in the lid where (small amounts) of dust can get in, drill it on the bucket, just below the lid, up high but above water level. A teeny hole will do just fine. It may actually work just fine without an air hole by simply not tightening down the Gamma lid, I'm not sure. But because those lids are threaded, it's possible you could get an airtight seal even without it being tightened down. Perhaps you just need to test it out a bit first.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

Nice job! That's a nice bucket too, with a Gamma lid.

Those Gamma lids can seal pretty well, so be sure you have a small air vent so when the water level drops, it doesn't cause a vacuum lock inside, which will make it impossible for the birds to get water out. Rather than drilling a hole in the lid where (small amounts) of dust can get in, drill it on the bucket, just below the lid, up high but above water level. A teeny hole will do just fine. It may actually work just fine without an air hole by simply not tightening down the Gamma lid, I'm not sure. But because those lids are threaded, it's possible you could get an airtight seal even without it being tightened down. Perhaps you just need to test it out a bit first.

Great tip, there's a small hole near the top above each point where the handle meets the bucket. (I drilled two just in case.) Also I didn't screw the lid down all the way because i find it's easier to spin them open with one hand when they're loose.

 

[LindaB220]

Great tip, there's a small hole near the top above each point where the handle meets the bucket. (I drilled two just in case.) Also I didn't screw the lid down all the way because i find it's easier to spin them open with one hand when they're loose.

Cool bucket!! Where did you get it?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Yes...do tell

 

[Leahs Mom]

And...so far I've still only seen 2 birds drink from my bucket.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

Cool bucket!!    Where did you get it?  :cd

The Home Depot website, they come in packs of 3 but they're reasonably priced and shipping is free if I remember correctly. Search for "leaktite translucent".

They come in 1-gal and 3.5-gal and three colors. I used a 1-gal for a brooder waterer as seen here (this was before I ordered the horizontal nipples):

I like that I can see the water levels at a glance now. (I'm lazy haha.)

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I'm going to go take a look. Wonder if they're food safe...

 

[TheGeekySheep]

I'm going to go take a look.  Wonder if they're food safe...

I just got one of my spares and flipped it over, it says its HDPE which Google tells me is high-density polyethylene. Listed applications include bottle caps and plastic bottles, so take that as you will.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylene

I also discovered they're made in Massachusetts, pleasant surprise.

 

[aart]

Quote: I don't see the twist lids....or any lids for the 3.5 gal.

Material is only listed as plastic......wonders if there is a recycle stamp on them... I doubt they are 'food safe', they are advertised as paint buckets.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

I don't see the twist lids....or any lids for the 3.5 gal.

Material is only listed as plastic......wonders if there is a recycle stamp on them... I doubt they are 'food safe', they are advertised as paint buckets.

The lids for the 5-gallon buckets fit the 3.5-gallon buckets too! I found it out by accident. That screw-top lid was on a 5-gallon bucket previously.

See my post to Leahs Mom for info on the material.