Anyone ever heard of the Bell-Matic Waterer?

[hokankai]

So my parents are looking for the most hands-off poultry experience possible. One thing they'd like NOT to worry about is watering the girls. As of right now we have two buckets with nipples on the bottom, but they really hate the nipples and will drink ANYTHING other than what's in the buckets.

Has anyone heard of this waterer? I don't really understand what it does...can someone explain it to me in laymen terms? I'm assuming it's a hanging waterer you hook up to a hose and it fills itself?

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplie...nt-ft1_poultry_watering_systems;pg105802.html

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

This design was the standard of the poultry industry for many years. This particular brand was never very popular as competitors were more reliable. It is a great deal of watering space for a few birds. I don't know where they came up with that 20 birds per - we used to use them at a rate of 100 broiler chickens or floor layers per unit.
You cannot just hook the up to a hose with water at typical pressures. That is way to high. Typical household pressures are at least 3x what they can handle.

 

[hokankai]

What are they designed to be hooked up to then? Do you recommend anything different?

 

[chuckzoo]

I think the people that offer the waterer also offer a pressure reducer that gets attached to the tap. If not, you could purchase one at Lowes in the garden irrigation dept along where the garden mister systems and automatic sprinklers are.

 

[Chick Norris]

You just have to add a pressure regulator upstream of it.
[http://www.randallBurkey.com/Pressure-Reducing-Valve-1_4-or-5_16/productinfo/4090/][/url]

You can probably find the same type of valve for cheaper if you look around at your local feed or tractor supply.

db