Auto-waterer

14210 Views 24 Replies 18 Participants Last post by LittleWings, Apr 25, 2014

vondonna

Discussion Starter · Jun 20, 2012

As I've mentioned in other threads I have 65 chickens. I've tried darned near every watering device out there and have never had much luck. It was either something the chickens would knock over, it didn't hold enough water or something they'd poop in, etc. About a month ago I saw these auto-waterers and I am in love!!!

I have it hooked up to a 55 gallon barrel and it's unbelievable how little I had to do and they have ample CLEAN water! Seriously, if you have to lug a hose (or heaven forbid, a bucket), you should check into one of these.

Nope, I'm not associated with them in any way, shape or form... just someone who is thrilled not to have to drag the hose out twice a day to empty out nasty waterers.

They can't overflow this little bowl because it's based on the weight of the water, so if one of the chickens steps on the bowl, it automatically stops any water flow. And, yep, that ONE little 6" bowl is all it takes for my 65 chickens.

Really is quite amazing. One of the best $40 I've ever spent.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/automatic_water_bowls.html

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

LdMorgan

· #2 · Jun 21, 2012

Great link. Gotta get me one of dose!

jjwilson72000

· #3 · Jun 21, 2012

Sorry if I'm a dumbass but you just attach a hose to it?

piglett

· #4 · Jun 21, 2012

i'm adding two 5gallon buckets with wattering nipples for my flock of 27
i'll put 1 in the coop & 1 in the run for them
i got mine from QC-supply
no i don't work for them or anything like that folks
i checked the reviews before i layed out my hard earned cash
10 shipped to the door for a little over 18 bucks works for me

good luck
piglett

TopTop

· #5 · Jun 21, 2012

Ok, I'll try this again. The first time I lost my post. I use free five gallon buckets from a deli. Drill a 3/4 inch hole in the lid for filling, a 3/8 inch hole in the side about 2-3 inches from the top, depending on how deep you want the water to be. Get a galvanized pan similar to the one in the link. Fill the pan & bucket with water, put the bucket in the pan, top down. The birds can drink anywhere from the pan but they can not walk in the water. I put a piece of scrap plywood on top weighted down with a cinder block. The plywood is larger than the pan so if birds sit on top their droppings go on the ground, not in the water. In the winter put the pan on top of cinder blocks with an incandescent light bulb in one of the holes to prevent freezing.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/behrens-utility-pan-3-gal-capacity-2171344

My feeder is nearly the same. No holes in the lid, a few 2 inch holes in the side near the bottom. A 4x4 wood block in the pan, secured with a couple screws through the bottom. Set the bucket on top of the pan, secure it with a couple screws through the bottom into the wood. To use just remove the lid to fill, the birds access the feed through the holes in the bottom of the bucket. When you gather your eggs each day give the bucket a good shake to prevent the feed from clumping. You could use the same plywood/cinder block on top, but I keep mine under an old table. There is not enough room between the bucket & table for the birds to sit there & the table is big enough to keep rain from blowing into the feed.

These bucket systems work pretty well for me & you can't beat the price. I hope I explained this ok.

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Jason

· #6 · Jul 5, 2012

Vondonna, that looks pretty cool. Looks like the valve is just a valve stem from a tire. Instead of ordering online you could probably get them at a big box store or an auto parts store.

twentynine

· #7 · Jul 12, 2012

I use 5 gallon buckets.

I install a water trough float in the bucket to maintain the water level. Cut 3" dia. holes in the side of the bucket slightly higher than the water level for the chickens to drink.

Then I hook the whole deal up to my rain water collection system. Presto, whamo, 250 gallons of water available to my flock and the horses without having to hook up to my home's water system.

Sandy

· #8 · Jul 23, 2012 (Edited)

6

This is the gravity feeder we made for the 55 guineas we used to have. It would work great for a large flock of chickens also.
The bottom pictures are of the bucket and nipple waterer for our chickens.

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earl

· #9 · Aug 22, 2012

automatic waterer

My coop collects rain water from the roof, it is stored in a 55 gallon barrel that is inside an insulated box and is heated by two sixty watt bulbs that are controlled by a thermocube that is inside the box so it does'nt read the temp out side the box and on constantly, from the tank is a pvc line that feeds all six coops it has 360 degree nipples and is wrapped in heat tape, insulated and then covered in duct tape. I never have to fill it, I never have to clean it and it never freezes, I love it.

Homegirl

· #10 · Aug 23, 2012

I have a great auto-waterer. It's my husband.....

wlnburg

· #11 · Aug 23, 2012

Here is my feeder adn waterer. http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/597589/my-first-shot-at-a-feeder-and-waterer#post_7870178

Energyvet

· #12 · Aug 23, 2012

Homegirl, that is the best kind! ;-)

Happeesupermom

· #13 · Oct 19, 2012

Earl- would you be able to provide pics of your watering setup? It sounds good, but I'm not sure I'm picturing it correctly.

earl

· #14 · Oct 20, 2012

I will try to get some pics soon, I am out of state working now and not sure when I am getting back home

ChickenWaterer

· #15 · Dec 30, 2012

Nice!

Homegirl said:
I have a great auto-waterer. It's my husband.....

I can relate. My nickname is "One-of-us" because whenever something unpleasant needs to be done.... one of us has to do it!

-Mark

Happeesupermom

· #16 · Dec 31, 2012

Thanks so much!

rich

· #17 · Apr 18, 2013

4

You guys may like this never touched it in two years. The Horizontal Poultry watering nipples are a real plus. Would handle 100 hens or more. Cost less than $30.00. Any questions email me [email protected]

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piglett

· #18 · Apr 19, 2013

now that's cool

might be a problem in the cold weather around here
but it look to be working well down where your at
thank for the pictures

piglett

rich

· #19 · Apr 20, 2013

Since Then

piglett said:
now that's cool
might be a problem in the cold weather around here
but it look to be working well down where your at
thank for the pictures

piglett

You are right there was a freezing problem. Here is how I fixed that. I bought a Little Giant Fountain Pump at Lowe's $12.00. I put the pump in the tank and ran tubing to one end of the nipple run. By circulating the water through the nipple run and back to the tank in my area it cured that. In colder areas you could add a bird bath heater too. I removed the flush handle so I could run the hose out and still leave the lid on. The Horizontal Nipples also help because there is less metal to conduct the cold.

Riverdale

· #20 · Apr 21, 2013

Rich and Sandy, GREAT ideas!

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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