Water nipples cracking plastic buckets

[Charlie D]

I've been using horizontal water nipples for about 3 months now. I've read all instruction and even bought the 11/32 bit just to get it right. I haven't screwed them in all the way but just a little past where they don't drip. Then after about 3-4 weeks the buckets got little fractures and split draining the water within minutes. Also, this has only happened on two 2gallon buckets. I'm just looking for ideas or advice because fortunately this happened inside chicken tractors, if it happens in my other coops it will ruin the floor if not caught right away. The nipples I'm using are Rentacoop and Muddy Hill Farm. I mentioned brands because it has happened with one of each. Thanks

- Charlie D

 

[Swbertrand1]

You might try a larger bucket. We use the 5 gallon buckets like you'd find at Home Depot, for our automatic waterer, and the larger diameter curve makes the transition through the side of the bucket to our cups (basically the same as the nipples) work fine with no cracks in the bucket. We've used this setup for over a year with no issues.
NOTE: We think we're going to switch to the nipples in the near future because the little cups need weekly cleaning...

 

[The Moonshiner]

Also sometimes it's the material (type of plastic) that cause the issue. All buckets aren't created equal.
I've also seen as buckets age some get more brittle.
I bought the specific drill bit and also the matching tap on Amazon. Tapping the hole helped.

 

[Charlie D]

You might try a larger bucket. We use the 5 gallon buckets like you'd find at Home Depot, for our automatic waterer, and the larger diameter curve makes the transition through the side of the bucket to our cups (basically the same as the nipples) work fine with no cracks in the bucket. We've used this setup for over a year with no issues.
NOTE: We think we're going to switch to the nipples in the near future because the little cups need weekly cleaning..

Also sometimes it's the material (type of plastic) that cause the issue. All buckets aren't created equal.
I've also seen as buckets age some get more brittle.
I bought the specific drill bit and also the matching tap on Amazon. Tapping the hole helped.

Thanks for the info. I'm a maintenance mechanic by trade and should've thought of tapping instead of just drilling a hole. The npt thread of the nipple may be creating way too much pressure on certain plastics with a non threaded hole. I've only experienced this with the 2 gallon buckets and not the 5 gallon ones. Possibly different plastics are used. Thanks again

- Charlie D

 

[Swbertrand1]

Also sometimes it's the material (type of plastic) that cause the issue. All buckets aren't created equal.
I've also seen as buckets age some get more brittle.
I bought the specific drill bit and also the matching tap on Amazon. Tapping the hole helped.

Indeed. I started to mention that, but that really opens a can of worms that I wasn't prepared to dive into. We will just replace the bucket when that becomes an issue.
Keeping them out of the sun seems to help with the brittleness issue as UV rays seem to destroy everything but plants.....

 

[The Moonshiner]

UV rays seem to destroy everything but plants.....

OMG now I'm freaking out.
Are they harmful to chickens? Seems chickens are more fragile then buckets. Should I get my birds out of the sun? Give them sunglasses? Little umbrellas attached to chicken saddles?
Please respond ASAP it's almost high noon and sunny here.
I can't wait I'm gonna go catch them all and lock them in the garage. D@mn then I'm gonna have to wash my hands so I don't get Salmonella.
BYC is scary this morning.

 

[Swbertrand1]

OMG now I'm freaking out.
Are they harmful to chickens? Seems chickens are more fragile then buckets. Should I get my birds out of the sun? Give them sunglasses? Little umbrellas attached to chicken saddles?
Please respond ASAP it's almost high noon and sunny here.
I can't wait I'm gonna go catch them all and lock them in the garage. D@mn then I'm gonna have to wash my hands so I don't get Salmonella.
BYC is scary this morning.

LOL! I thought about that statement when I typed it. Yep, better get them OUT of the sun ASAP! If you can't, umbrellas and some stylish shades for the girls are in order...

 

[jthornton]

I've been using horizontal water nipples for about 3 months now. I've read all instruction and even bought the 11/32 bit just to get it right. I haven't screwed them in all the way but just a little past where they don't drip. Then after about 3-4 weeks the buckets got little fractures and split draining the water within minutes.

I solved this by using plastic nuts on the inside of the bucket and drilling the hole large enough for a slip fit. I use only vertical tipples so the flat bottom works better but the sides should bend enough to make a flat surface to seal on.

JT

 

[3KillerBs]

What kind of bucket?

I've put Rent-A-Coop nipples into some pretty thin containers -- the 5lb tubs some deli salads come in where I work -- and didn't have any leaking or cracking.

BUT, when I read the reviews on Amazon many people mentioned hand-tightening the nipples instead of using the drill attachment because the force and speed of the drill cracks the bucket if it gets away from you at all. So all my nipples are hand-tightened and only until just tight enough to lightly compress the gasket rather than hard down.

 

[Charlie D]

What kind of bucket?

I've put Rent-A-Coop nipples into some pretty thin containers -- the 5lb tubs some deli salads come in where I work -- and didn't have any leaking or cracking.

BUT, when I read the reviews on Amazon many people mentioned hand-tightening the nipples instead of using the drill attachment because the force and speed of the drill cracks the bucket if it gets away from you at all. So all my nipples are hand-tightened and only until just tight enough to lightly compress the gasket rather than hard down.

Lowe’s buckets and all were hand tightened. I didn’t even go back to the gasket the whole way. They didn’t leak from nipples, the leak was when the buckets cracked. I think it may be from being exposed in the sun possibly. Actually it could’ve been a lot of Variables I guess.