Sashurlows Pvc Water Feeder

its so cool i want to make 1.

i like the idea and im switching this spring

what about using pvc glue instead of screws?? you just fill from the top?

Awesome Idea! My husband works for a plumbing supply Co. so. we can get scrap for free! ;o) How tall did you make it?

Just put mine up today, works like a charm, no wasted feed on the ground. It allows me to control the mix of grit, layer crumbles, DE, and crushed egg shells

i wonder if it would still work if you extended the bottom length of the pipe. I've got 43 chickens I'm gonna have to feed. do you think the feed would travel to the end of the pipe if its about 3 ft long??

The length of travel for the feed on the horizontal portion will be in direct proportion of the vertical portion of the pipe. The longer the vertical portion, the farther the seed travels, thus building velocity and propelling the seed farther when it reaches the bottom. However, three feet might be a bit much, but 18 inches to two feet might be achievable if the vertical portion of the pipe is long enough.

The length of travel for the feed on the horizontal portion will be in direct proportion of the vertical portion of the pipe. The longer the vertical portion, the farther the seed travels, thus building velocity and propelling the seed farther when it reaches the bottom. However, three feet might be a bit much, but 18 inches to two feet might be achievable if the vertical portion of the pipe is long enough. PS: our pipe works wonders with about a foot at the bottom.

Thanks so cool!!! Need a couple for my coops....

Mine is not working as intended.
We put our coop up after much research and I LOVED this idea but I went out last night after having filled my pipe (5 days worth of food) I have a cap to keep moisture out and initially it was super cool, the little food trough was filled. After an hour or so of my girls having at it tho I looked and it was empty and the food does not seem to move out of the neck of the joint. So now, in order for the girls to eat they need to stick their heads up in the pipe to get to the feed, effectively making it a 1 at a time bird feeder. and I am worried they aren't going for it.

The food is not filling after the initial fill. Is this becase I am using pellets?

I used a 60 degree elbow instead of a 90 the tray pipe is slanted slighly and it fills the tray pipe fine.

i've used one of these for years, cool thing is if the food doesn't flow for some reason the girls will stick their head into the 90 and peck at it til it releases. I also keep it elevated about 6-8 inches with with some kind of roof over head so they wont jump up on to it and **** in the food.
also, i only use pellets and a 4 inch piece of pvc
also, the feeding trough only needs to be 8-10 inches long and 1/4 of it cut out, turned straight up.
also, i did not use screws just pvc glue
also, if your having trouble with it filling, you could also lean the top inward which will lean the bottom down. it may help may not. it still works great for my 5 girls and every one is happy

the feed will not travel more than those 8-10 inches so if you have 43 chix you'll need several. my guess is 5-6 and tall hopper pipe, maybe 4-5 feet tall .....why not make one out of a 6 or 8 inch pvc pipe and have a reducer at the bottom....just an idea. mine in only 4 " but 4 1/2 feet tall . holds 20 lbs.
blah blah blah

Just installed one of these and had to tweak it a little. There are some tricks to ensure it works right. First, when you fill it pour some feed in the bottom to keep it from hitting the bend and rocketing down the line.

Second, don't expect the entire trough to be full all.

Third, make sure the slot is cut close enough to the elbow or the chickens can't get at the feed. I had to actually cut into the flange of the elbow to make it so the chickens could get at the feed. One chicken will usually push food further down the trough looking for the "better" pellets.

Fourth, Don't glue the end cap on. Leave it free so you can brush litter, feed dust, and feathers out the end when it builds up too much.

Fifth, if you want you can drill some 3/16" holes and countersink them so you can see the feed level in the tube. The hole can be a little bigger than the diameter of a pellet, not sure how it would work with crumbles.

Just installed one of these and had to tweak it a little. There are some tricks to ensure it works right. I used 4" pipe for the hopper with a 4" to 3" reducing elbow and about 18" of 3" tube.

First, when you fill it pour some feed in the bottom to keep the poured feed from hitting the bend and rocketing down the line.

Second, don't expect the entire trough to be full.

Third, make sure the slot is cut close enough to the elbow or the chickens can't get at the feed. I had to actually cut into the flange of the elbow to make it so the chickens could get at the feed. One chicken will usually push food further down the trough looking for the "better" pellets.

Fourth, Don't glue the end cap on. Leave it free so you can brush litter, feed dust, and feathers out the end when it builds up too much.

Fifth, if you want you can drill some 3/16" holes and countersink them so you can see the feed level in the tube. The hole can be a little bigger than the diameter of a pellet, not sure how it would work with crumbles.

dpops853 said:

I used a 60 degree elbow instead of a 90 the tray pipe is slanted slighly and it fills the tray pipe fine.

Click to expand...

I used 2-45's with a short enough piece of pipe so when glued the two butted together, worked well.