Chicken waterers

[mscher]

Having hating to "take care of the chickens" as a child, I am once again finding myself in this same situation, this time by choice.<br /><br />One thing that has not change in forty years is how lame the so-called "automatic" poultry waterers really are.<br /><br />Turning waterers upside-down (and removing the bottom) to fill or pulling off metal vacuum tops, or even the one where you reach into the watery dreck to screw on a cap, is not the best way for stressed-out mid lifers to enjoy a farming hobby.<br /><br />Is there not a better way to water a couple of dozen chickens?<br /><br />I do like the "Hart cups" that utilize a float valve, but they are geared to a pressurized water source, that I do now have nearby. I'm wandering if they can be adapted to a small tank to be gravity fed.<br /><br />Any input on this perplexing issue of our times?<br /><br />;~)

 

[ndemge]

Re: Chicken waterers

Ahhh Chickens... Hated taking care of those reched birds when I was younger, but must say, nothing better then home grown.<br /><br />Had problems with not having fresh enough water, quantity wouldn't be a problem, but keeping it fresh...<br /><br />....What dad built...<br /><br />FLAT toilet bowl float at the bottom of a 6" PVC "T" supply came in from the top of the T, and to the side outlet of the T, was reduced to 2" PVC, ran 4' long and cut length wise to expose a long wattering trough. <br /><br />The flat mount pressure float worked perfect, brought water height up to the middle of the trough, then when it dropped 1/4", it would let water in.<br /><br />Trough connected to an elbo, so the main part of the "T" was outside the fence, and the trough was mounted to the fence.<br /><br />I'm not sure of the pressure required, having the water high enough might be enough.<br /><br />If you must have higher pressure, RV type Water Pumps, They pressurize the system, and only kick in when in use to bring pressure back up, so assuming no leaks, it runs for a second to bring to pressure then sits... This could be ran off a deep cycle battery and a small solar panel.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Chicken waterers

Chickens need water?<br /><br />That would explain all the powdered eggs I've been getting.