Automatic waters- low pressure systems

What are folks using?

Mike,
I don't use a low pressure system, but I do have some feedback for your on other systems.

I bought a Little Giant Game Bird Fount (red plastic). The idea is great, the execution doesn't work well in practice, in my opinion.
It fills via a schraeder valve and the weight of a full bowl releases the schraeder valve and allows it to close.
My valve never lasted longer than a month. Either has to do with sediment clogging it or maybe my nightly freezes.
Either way, wasn't happy.

I ended up installing a Little Giant galvanized waterer which utilizes a float. I have to replace the float maybe every 12-24 months, usually if my hogs damage it.
Works nice, but birds have a tendency to perch on it and "shit where they drink", so I have to put something to deter that behavior.

I have also seen people use 5 gallon buckets with tiny watering nipples under them which the chickens move to allow water flow. Nice, passive way of doing it, but of course you have to refill the bucket every so often which is added labor.

G'luck

I use small troughs and I use chicken nipples. I haven't tried the nipples on the bottom of a bucket, but I use them on PVC pipe.

The issue with the nipples is that you can't hook them to a hose. They don't take very much pressure before leaking, etc. This means filling up buckets, etc. Not a big deal.

I've been tempted to set up something like a toilet tank, with a float valve to fill the bucket attached to the waterer.

Yea, i would not bd running them off a hose. Thanks guys for the input.

I haven't tried the nipples, maybe i should.

Thanks!

I don't remember which poultry book it was, but the author recommended the bowls. Haven't tried them myself.

Salatin mentiones that chickens can teach turkeys to use the nipples.

Jeremey Weeks wrote:

I've been tempted to set up something like a toilet tank, with a float valve to fill the bucket attached to the waterer.

Good idea. I'd bet some replacement swamp cooler parts would work easily.

Mick,

We raise about 8000 meat birds a year and run about 1000 laying hens year-round. Everything is moved daily to fresh pasture, thus in order to minimize labor we have all of our chook tractors rigged on gravity fed waterers. We have used many different brands and the best by far is made by Plasson. One of the most affordable places to buy them from is QC Supply (Google them). The Plasson Broiler Drinker is economical and virtually fail proof. We experience really hot summers here in South Texas and getting water to the birds fast is a major issue. Don't go with the nipple drinkers because you can't get them water fast enough when you need it. Basically only one bird can drink from each nipple. For the Plasson I would say one per 100 birds. If you are in a hot, arid climate one waterer per 50 birds.

,Travis Krause
-parkercreekranch.com

Travis, I checked out your website. I'm very envious of your operation! I hope I have that many birds some day!

I hope you're getting plenty of rain.