[Stereo]

I use those big 30 litre tripod drinkers with the cap on top and the bung in the bottom and they are great but obviously at some point they run out. I'm thinking of combining them with some kind of auto system. I've been looking at those little drinkers you get on ebay which are for broiler sheds. Little red cups which cost 60-70p each or whatever, I think cut off the supply when full. Plan would be to put a row of these connected to a big 1000l IBC tank, maybe containing filtered rain water from the roofs.  That gives me 2 drinker systems in case one fails for some reason.

Anyone used them? Are they sturdy enough for full size hens / cockerels?

Something like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-100X-Chicken-Coop-Auto-Feeder-Waterer-Poultry-Water-Drinking-Cup-Fowl-Drinker-/321466612386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item4ad8e73aa2

[Womble]

Hi Stereo,

I tried the cup type but half of the hens never really took to them for some reason. Also they needed cleaning out periodically.

I have used these nipple drinkers to good effect with broilers though.


The only word of warning is that I tried mounting them in 2" plastic sink-drain pipe and couldn't get them to seal due to the curvature of the pipe. In the end I took a flat bottomed sheep lick bucket (they grow wild in ditches around here), drilled holes and screwed them straight into that. This worked so well, I haven't got round to doing anything more complicated with them yet!

[cloddopper]

They do fit best in square thick walled pipe womble though  if you can't get any 7 have to use sink waste pipe  put a blank ended "Tee " in the pipe with a blanking  end and a water in  adaptor spigot end  ( washing machine waste connection spigot point at the other end .

They work best if  the nozzle is put in the " Tee"  in and insert the nozzle in the blanking plate  .

It's a bit expensive but works out fairly comparable when you buy form a plumbers merchant instead of the likes of Wickes or B&Q to specially buying in square pipe .

It does have the the advantage of you being able to clean out the pipe work easily if it gets sludged up .  They are also best off being suspended on 1/2 " link chains so that you can change the height so that the birds have to peck up wards for a drink as this helps stop them playing around and wetting the floor as well as being adjustable in height for new or smaller stock at some time in the future .

[Stereo]

Looked at those. Do the birds take to them well? I'm rearing birds in 'chicken tractors' and they would be ideal for them too. Can you use them in a brooder too?

[Clansman]

Stereo where are you?

I should be able to get you a few lengths of the proper nipple drinker piping with nipples attached ready to go and a few spares.

They've been removed from a farm and may need a little TLC but should be decent enough.

They are used on broiler farms right from day old, each line is usually on a handwinch system and can be lifted or lowered as needed.

As Cloddopper says the nipple is usually adjusted in height so that the bird has to stretch just slightly to reach it.

Every morning it used to be three clicks on the handwinch

[Stereo]

I'm the opposite end on the UK from you! South Devon. I can grab a few of eBay to try. Might set it up in the brooder and try it on the next batch, that's if any of my 'dry hatch' make it. Should be tonight but no cheeping yet.

[Clansman]

I could post you a few lengths 

[Stereo]

Thanks for the kind offer but I won't put you to the trouble. I've just taken delivery of 5 30 litre tripod drinkers which will save me a lot of trudging back and forth with drinkers for the time being.

http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/poultry-drinker-with-metal-tripod-30-litres/?gclid=CLDcgZPs6MMCFapf2wod20oAzg

Good price and next day delivery. Not massively sturdy. Wouldn't want to leave them in a strong gale out in the open when full as I suspect they would collapse. But where I need them they are really good. Can take the tray out to clean too.

[Clansman]

They look good. 


I use 5 gallon drums same idea as the two designs on this page for the big pens with turkeys and ducks etc

I can fill mine with a hose from the house though, saves a LOT of carrying

[Victorian Farmer]

Get the buckit whith them in and hang they will last a week and young drink from them

[Stereo]

That's a damn good idea. Would you put them in the bottom pointing down or on the sides at the base?

[Stereo]

Thinking further, you could fit them around the edge of a square water tank with a ball valve fitted, connected to an IBC or similar.

[Heather B]

 
Warning - whatever you do, don't buy one of these, absolutely rubbish; I got a full refund and then was ask to 'recycle' it on the company's behalf!
http://www.ukpoultrysupplies.co.uk/products/details/817.html?adid=78&aditem=817&dyadid=71

[Stereo]

What was the problem with it?

[Heather B]

Hi, the nozzle thing doesn't fit properly and whilst you can move it and try and tighten it, I had to keep opening the top screw lid to let the water out.  When I would check later in the afternoon there would be no water.  I do have another once which I have found more successful which is http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/30l_plastic_tripod_chicken_drinker.html and you can buy additional bungs for this one quite cheaply, albeit these need to be kept out of the sun otherwise its a bit of a job getting the algae out from inside - a very long brush required!!