Waterers - Autos

[farmgal12]

I am going in circles with watering systems.
The plan is to have a line plumbed to the coop however - trying to ensure its worth it and what system to hook up to the line/hose once it is there.

I have about 20 birds. I currently use two galvanized waterers and fill them up twice a week.

Everything I run across is for low pressure systems or too open that I think it would be messy.. I don't want anything that they can get on top of and poop in the water. I have two hens that like to sit on my metal feeders and poop in the water... UGH!

Ideas?

I am a bit "lazy" and "not handy" - so really need a system that is easy to connect or already together... something simple, that keeps clean, and is auto??

On a budget to top it off... can't spend a crazy amount on waterers

 

[pdirt]

Then you really don't want to plumb water to your coop. Cost alone would be reason enough, depending on what you intend to do. Or at least I wouldn't do it for only 20 birds. Just hang two 5-gallon buckets that have two horizontal nipples installed each bucket. You will only have to refill the buckets once every week or two. The horizontal nipples waste far less water than the vertical nipples. Loosely place a lid on the bucket and it will keep the birds off and the water clean. I never have birds roost on my hanging buckets and if I did, placing an object on the lids would solve that problem.

Recall that if you do a plumbed job that it will freeze in winter if you have freezing weather where you live. But if you place an inexpensive submersible fish tank heater in the bottom of a nipple bucket and you will have flowing nipple water all winter long. Lots of folks who have plumbed systems only use it in warmer months and have to deal with another method in winter.

Cost of two 5 gallon watering buckets:
Buckets with lids (free from a deli, bakery or restaurant)
Horizontal nipples (5 for $13 on eBay)
Adjustable hang straps (2 for $13 on amazon)
Total=$26

For winter, get a 100-watt aquarium heater from Walmart or amazon for about $20. You could also just do one bucket in winter to save cost on another aquarium heater. Just refill the bucket more often.

The only skill required is to drill two holes on each bucket and then you hand tighten each nipple into the hole. No glue, sealants or Teflon tape required. Just a drill bit slightly smaller than 3/8", which would be a couple dollars if you don't have one. And if you really aren't comfortable drilling the holes, I'm sure you could get a friend or neighbor to help. But it's quite easy to do!

 

[farmgal12]

Honestly - plumbing is cheap, we are already plumbing into the garden, so its only an extra 5' of pipe to add a faucet next to the coop and add an auto waterer... so cost really isn't an issue on the plumbing as even with buckets there will be a faucet added there anyways as my hoses are too far away. I only have a half acre but I have 2 spickets - one in front, one in back --- so I have to stretch out 100' hoses everywhere... we added one next to the horse pen when we did the front sprinklers, but the back is the next project.

I only get "freezing" weather about 1-2 weeks worth of days per year max and that is only into the mid 20s at the lowest.. we normally stay around 35 degrees. I am in northern california - so weather isn't too extreme in one direction or the other IMO.

I really don't want 3 five gallon buckets in my coop - that would take up too much room... and the outside of my coop has grape vines growing so I can't set it outside either, plus I am a looks person and that just seems "ugly" ???

Sorry, I know I am difficult.

I thought about adding inside the house itself - it is 8x8x6

 

[pdirt]

You don't need three buckets, I edited my post to reflect that. Two or even one bucket would be enough. Assuming your current galvanized waterers are two gallons each and you fill up 2x/week, then you go through roughly 8 gallons a week. That sounds like a lot of water for 20 birds. I suspect it's because their water gets nasty and you either dump out water to clean them out or just refill earlier than necessary because they are so dirty.

 

[pdirt]

But it also sounds like you just really want a plumbed system and are looking for encouragement from others to do so? If so, sorry I can't help there as I have no experience with installing such a system!

 

[farmgal12]

Maybe I need to clarify - whether or not I am filling buckets or putting in something attached to the hose itself - I need the chicken water end!

something that the birds wont make messy and that can either be filled once a week at most or just plugged into a hose on my newly added faucet.

All of the cups, nipples, etc all seem to be low PSI and I definitely don't have that on my well!

 

[pawtraitart]

Honestly - plumbing is cheap, we are already plumbing into the garden, so its only an extra 5' of pipe to add a faucet next to the coop and add an auto waterer... so cost really isn't an issue on the plumbing as even with buckets there will be a faucet added there anyways as my hoses are too far away. I only have a half acre but I have 2 spickets - one in front, one in back --- so I have to stretch out 100' hoses everywhere... we added one next to the horse pen when we did the front sprinklers, but the back is the next project.

I only get "freezing" weather about 1-2 weeks worth of days per year max and that is only into the mid 20s at the lowest.. we normally stay around 35 degrees. I am in northern california - so weather isn't too extreme in one direction or the other IMO.

I really don't want 3 five gallon buckets in my coop - that would take up too much room... and the outside of my coop has grape vines growing so I can't set it outside either, plus I am a looks person and that just seems "ugly" ???

Sorry, I know I am difficult.

I thought about adding inside the house itself - it is 8x8x6

Why don't you get a 30 gallon plastic drum, mount it onto a stand and run some pvc from it into your coop for a simple gravity fed system. That way you can have a space saving stretch of pvc pipe with poultry nipples on it within your coop but the water tank is outside. I like the horizontal nipples the best because they don't drip. You can get the nipples from Susan at http://allboutchickens.com.

 

[farmgal12]

In one of my other posts - I stated I couldn't put anything outside of my coop - it is surrounded by grape vines to keep it cool in the summer as I really don't have any trees.

One bucket in the coop would be fine... I just ran across this system - anyone have experience?

http://www.autowaterkit.com/index.html



Then do you go nipples or cups? Both of those seem to be what the choice is for chickens - either the nipples or the cups.. . Don't want something that leaks and don't want something that the chickens have issues with..

I really need to buy a system that is already together... this is a bit more then I wanted to spend, but then I realize that those galvanized waterers are like 30-35.. I don't have tools to drill holes and secure anything - not to mention I would be terrified that anything I did like that wouldn't be secure and would end up leaking or coming apart... my hand in building anything is pathetic and never lasts so I have found somethings cheaper to spend a bit more and have it done for me as if not I will spend double building - at least where there is water involved

I really like the looks of the one at allaboutchicken you posted but her buckets are only 3 gallon and I know that won't last me all week from what I am dealing with now... not sure how these would be installed if I did it myself on a bigger bucket... but I would assume at least a drill that I don't have.



And my autos now are a 1 gal and a 2 gal (maybe 3 ?? I forget what they are) - I work 3 days a week so I fill them up the day I start my "weekend" and the day I end my "weekend" as I know 3 gallons don't last them all week and they will be dry -- that is when they get cleaned regardless of what they look like that day as its when I have set time to do it.

 

[pawtraitart]

In one of my other posts - I stated I couldn't put anything outside of my coop - it is surrounded by grape vines to keep it cool in the summer as I really don't have any trees.

One bucket in the coop would be fine... I just ran across this system - anyone have experience?

http://www.autowaterkit.com/index.html



Then do you go nipples or cups? Both of those seem to be what the choice is for chickens - either the nipples or the cups.. . Don't want something that leaks and don't want something that the chickens have issues with..

I really need to buy a system that is already together... this is a bit more then I wanted to spend, but then I realize that those galvanized waterers are like 30-35.. I don't have tools to drill holes and secure anything - not to mention I would be terrified that anything I did like that wouldn't be secure and would end up leaking or coming apart... my hand in building anything is pathetic and never lasts so I have found somethings cheaper to spend a bit more and have it done for me as if not I will spend double building - at least where there is water involved

I really like the looks of the one at allaboutchicken you posted but her buckets are only 3 gallon and I know that won't last me all week from what I am dealing with now... not sure how these would be installed if I did it myself on a bigger bucket... but I would assume at least a drill that I don't have.



And my autos now are a 1 gal and a 2 gal (maybe 3 ?? I forget what they are) - I work 3 days a week so I fill them up the day I start my "weekend" and the day I end my "weekend" as I know 3 gallons don't last them all week and they will be dry -- that is when they get cleaned regardless of what they look like that day as its when I have set time to do it.

I prefer the nipples because my birds tend to get dirt in the cups which then have to be cleaned out. For an auto system you're going to have some good money invested. All those pieces and parts add up, so one that's already put together for you ends up being a good deal. Rich, the US Solway Feeders rep makes an auto fill bucket unit with the horizontal nipples so that's another option worth looking into. http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOMATIC-F...471?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338b1a0587 The bucket is small so it won't take up much room in your coop.

 

[pdirt]

An already put-together system will be more difficult to ship, especially one with cups as those cups would need to be carefully padded and packaged so they don't get damaged in shipping. And many companies ship a product that YOU STILL HAVE TO put together. So make sure you find out that all you need to do is pull it from the packaging and fill it with water. If you go with a cup or horizontal nipple set-up, you could set it on blocks or something (no need to hang it) but you will want to place something on top of the lid to keep them from roosting on the lid. If you hang it, you shouldn't have such a problem.

If you want to hang the bucket, these straps will definitely hold a full 5-gallon bucket:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-3060DAT-12-Foot-1-inch/dp/B0009V1WXY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Use a carabiner for an easy quick release:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Oval/dp/B002IAMDJQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
(you can find heavy duty steel carabiners for much cheaper at your hardware store)