What are your favorite waterers and feeders?

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I'm in the process of making some of those as well.

 

[NonnasBabies]

My nipple waterer is a 5 gallon bucket with 3 nipples on the bottom. I have a 1 inch hole in the lid where I fill it up. The water stays perfectly clean from the time you fill it up till they empty it. No more nasty waterers that I have to deal with!!

 

[debid]

I use nipple buckets for water (5-gallon in the coop, 1-gallon in the run -- warmer months only). I added a screw-on lid contraption to the 5-gallon so it is easier to open the whole top (for cleaning or adding water).

I have this type of feeder. Perfect size for me and it's scratch and bill-out resistant. It also can be taken apart so I can run it through the dishwasher periodically.

I bought two to reduce squabbling at the feeder and so I'd have enough capacity to go on vacation.

 

[Spoof]

I use a nipple style watering system and the feeder I built (pictured at the end of this thread)

Love the feeder because it keeps out the ants (fire/black/carpenter), the rodents, birds, and other bugs that would come eat the food. It is also water proof and there is no discernible waste.

The watering system I love because I don't have to worry about them soiling it, especially if I pull a long day or am out of town overnight. If I think I'm going to be gone I also leave a bucket out as a backup, or a separate container with a nipple in it just in case.

 

[ChickenMack]

For water, I just use a bucket. My flock seems to prefer this and it is easy for me to clean and change the water daily. As for feed, I use a galvanized baby pig trough- I have a small flock and this works great- I got it from the farm store. Nothing fancy but easy to clean.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

I was hating taking care of my chickens when I had a plastic waterer that I had to scrub clean every two days and fill every day. I use waterer cups now and my life is so much easier. I have a large storage feeder that I fill twice a month. Now I don't resent my chickens, just spend time with them and play with them

 

[greenriver]

Nice ideas, love the redneck auto!

But alas, I am currently in cold(er) weather latitudes. Here is a recent aquisition from Big R ($33) that I hope will become my favorite.

 

[justsomeguync]

Does anybody know of a reason why I couldn't use a garbage/feed can with the pvc pipe out of the bottom and go straight to a trough? I am trying to work out something for my mother, who isn't as mobile as she used to be. With a 30 gallon can, I should be able to fit three bags of feed. I can work out the specifics myself, but I would think pellets would flow until you would get near the bottom, maybe something in the bottom to funnel it toward the hole in the middle.

Or the hole offset to a side, so a stand to support the can would also keep the birds off the trough?

 

[MR.PEEPS]

I have a bucket with 4 nipples on it i love it

 

[Sweetbliss]

Awesome ideas! I love that little water cup system. What's a "storage feeder"? We would be getting around 10 hens when the time comes - and the idea of filling the feeder twice a month sounds fantastic.

The milk jug idea is brilliant for on-the-fly feeding needs! What craftsmanship, KDK1! I love how much the feeder looks like it stores - and the holes so the birds can't scoop out and waste as much - or perch on top of as easily to poop in the feed.

I just saw this funny gizmo on youtube:

but thought that, brilliant as it is, it may not do so well in the sanitary department (as the chicks can just stand on the plate and poo in it). Any more ideas on automatic feeders would be great to hear!