Water and feed system for new coop build

[Selenahas]

Hello all,

I’m new to chickens and building my coop. It’s a coop with attached run all under one shed roof. I have it designed with an entry space on one end where I will store feed and have a quarantine pen. The middle is all run and the far end is the elevated coop/roosts with a clean out door, nesting boxes will be mounted to access from inside the run. Total dimensions are 10x20 feet for a flock of 12 (coop is 4x10 feet, run is 12x10 feet, storage area is 4x10 feet).

My question is for watering and feed systems. What do you like best? I will need to run 200 feet of hose to the coop from where my water source is. I’m looking at rain barrel conversions with nipple waterer attached to a PVC pipe as a possibility. For feeders I like the idea of PVC chutes but I’ve heard they clog up with moisture.

My location is south eastern PA so we get a mix of all weather with freezing conditions for 2-3 months a year.

What are your suggestions?

 

[ChaosMom]

Hello all,

I’m new to chickens and building my coop. It’s a coop with attached run all under one shed roof. I have it designed with an entry space on one end where I will store feed and have a quarantine pen. The middle is all run and the far end is the elevated coop/roosts with a clean out door, nesting boxes will be mounted to access from inside the run. Total dimensions are 10x20 feet for a flock of 12 (coop is 4x10 feet, run is 12x10 feet, storage area is 4x10 feet).

My question is for watering and feed systems. What do you like best? I will need to run 200 feet of hose to the coop from where my water source is. I’m looking at rain barrel conversions with nipple waterer attached to a PVC pipe as a possibility. For feeders I like the idea of PVC chutes but I’ve heard they clog up with moisture.

My location is south eastern PA so we get a mix of all weather with freezing conditions for 2-3 months a year.

What are your suggestions?

Just a question/comment on watering chickens from a rain barrel - I’ve been told (by my agriculture professor) that while runoff from a metal roof is ok, that from an asphalt-type roof is not. Also wild bird droppings on the roof could potentially be a problem if AI flares up in your area. (Wild waterfowl are the main concern.)

 

[Selenahas]

Just a question/comment on watering chickens from a rain barrel - I’ve been told (by my agriculture professor) that while runoff from a metal roof is ok, that from an asphalt-type roof is not. Also wild bird droppings on the roof could potentially be a problem if AI flares up in your area. (Wild waterfowl are the main concern.)

Thank you for adding that consideration! I was going to fill the rain barrel with the hose just as a way to hold a decent quantity of water and not have to run the hose out daily.

 

[Sefirothe]

NEPA here, will you have electric out to the coop for winter?

I use a 3 gallon heated water from Premeir1 and love it for all year round. I just fill a gallon jug or two from the house and carry it out to the coop to dump in the waterer. We do have electric out at the coop so winter isn't a problem. In the summer I just disconnect the power cord.

 

[J_Yonts]

I'm in central IN , we use a 30 gal water barrel with the PVC pipe w/water cups for our broilers and it works beautifully when weather is above freezing It will absolutely freeze in the winter. You will damage your connections from barrel to pipe and pipe to cups/nipples with the freeze and thaw. Winter is a no go for this set up. I have 8 laying hens separate from my broilers and use a 5 gal waterer and that will last them well over a week even in summer. I use a heated waterer in the winter and have not had any problems.

Picture is PVC set up

 

[Selenahas]

NEPA here, will you have electric out to the coop for winter?

I use a 3 gallon heated water from Premeir1 and love it for all year round. I just fill a gallon jug or two from the house and carry it out to the coop to dump in the waterer. We do have electric out at the coop so winter isn't a problem. In the summer I just disconnect the power cord.

View attachment 4136705

I can run an extension cord out there when needed, I’m only ~100 feet away from our barn. Your setup sounds very reasonable to me, I could easily carry a gallon or two of water from the house, I’d prefer that over running the hose back and forth.

 

[Selenahas]

Thank y

I'm in central IN , we use a 30 gal water barrel with the PVC pipe w/water cups for our broilers and it works beautifully when weather is above freezing It will absolutely freeze in the winter. You will damage your connections from barrel to pipe and pipe to cups/nipples with the freeze and thaw. Winter is a no go for this set up. I have 8 laying hens separate from my broilers and use a 5 gal waterer and that will last them well over a week even in summer. I use a heated waterer in the winter and have not had any problems.

Picture is PVC set up

Thank you for sharing! I see that the length of pipe would freeze, even if you dunked a heater in the main barrel. That’s helpful to know!

 

[Sefirothe]

I can run an extension cord out there when needed, I’m only ~100 feet away from our barn. Your setup sounds very reasonable to me, I could easily carry a gallon or two of water from the house, I’d prefer that over running the hose back and forth.

This particular heater states not to use an extension cord with it. I think someone here in the forums did and it actually shorted out and melted the base of the waterer.

As to refilling it, I've had between 4 and 9 chickens total and never have to refill it every day. I usually go out to the coop to gather eggs each day and I'll give the handle a lift. If I can pick it up easily I'll throw a gallon or two in. If it takes effort to lift then its full enough. Once a week or every other week in fair weather I'll drag the hose down and fill it entirely and rinse the dust off the outside.

 

[Selenahas]

This particular heater states not to use an extension cord with it. I think someone here in the forums did and it actually shorted out and melted the base of the waterer.

As to refilling it, I've had between 4 and 9 chickens total and never have to refill it every day. I usually go out to the coop to gather eggs each day and I'll give the handle a lift. If I can pick it up easily I'll throw a gallon or two in. If it takes effort to lift then it’s full enough. Once a week or every other week in fair weather I'll drag the hose down and fill it entirely and rinse the dust off the outside.

Thats good to know I’ll be sure to look at the requirements on whatever water heater we use. I think running electricity to the coop from the barn would be cost prohibitive compared to a solar panel which I’ve seen for about $150.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This particular heater states not to use an extension cord with it. I think someone here in the forums did and it actually shorted out and melted the base of the waterer.

As to refilling it, I've had between 4 and 9 chickens total and never have to refill it every day.

*whispers* I use an extension cord with it and have done so for 5 years.

I fill mine twice a week in warmer weather, once a week in cold weather. 10 adult birds right now.