Gravity Water Feeder?

[la79al]

We are going away for 2 weeks. I would like to make chicken care as easy as possible. Can I use a gravity water feeder for our chickens (like the kind you would use for a dog or cat)? We currently use a gravity food feeder with no problems. We currently have a chicken waterer hanging in the coop but its the kind that needs to be taken down and twisted apart to refill. I just feel like the ability to fill from the top will make things so much easier.

 

[cherrynberry]

We are going away for 2 weeks. I would like to make chicken care as easy as possible. Can I use a gravity water feeder for our chickens (like the kind you would use for a dog or cat)? We currently use a gravity food feeder with no problems. We currently have a chicken waterer hanging in the coop but its the kind that needs to be taken down and twisted apart to refill. I just feel like the ability to fill from the top will make things so much easier.

Nipple feeders are great! I attach it to a 5 gallon bucket and refill from the top every few days or so.

 

[neo71665]

Go with horizontal nipple waterers.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Nipple waterers are great but you'd need to train the birds to use them before you left.

Any waterer is fine for your vacation plans as long as you have someone coming over to check on it for any issues and to refill them regularly.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Gravity feeders are waterers usually get fouled up pretty quickly. So even though there may be adequate quantity, its quality maybe unusable.

That being said, i use them cause its what I have so i add extra of both. If im gone longer than 3 days, we have a pet sittee come and check everything every 2-3 days.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'm using one of those pressure fed "automatic" dog watering bowls, the pressure provided by gravity from a 275 gallon tote. Doing the same thing with some automatic stock tank fillers set in long plastic PVC gutters. and of course, "chicken cups" attached to a PVC line, attached to a 275 gal tote (fed by rainwater, no less).

I've ducks, they are a messy sort. Takes just a day or three for my birds to put enough sand in the bottom of the cups to really cut into the amount of water offered (not that they care) and a week before they are rendered non functional. About the same on the automatic dog watering bowl - takes about an inch of sand to clog the inlet. The stock tank valve in the 5" gutter works best. Takes a LONG LONG time to build up that much sand.

Or chicken nipples, which I have no experience with, but are quite popular. How large is the flock you need to offer water for???

 

[blackdog043]

If you have time before you go away, get horizontal nipples and make a waterer. Use at least a 5 gallon bucket and buy a gamma lid for it. Gamma lids screw on and off, making it easy to refill. The person can choose to fill it with gallon jugs or carry the bucket. If you can get one made and have a week to get the chickens using it, it will make it very easy on the person caring for them.

Below is an article I wrote, that might help you with making a nipple waterer.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

 

[Ais]

Agreed with nipple waterers. They stay clean and the birds pick up on it super fast. I've taught older pullets and younger chicks to use them just by getting their attention and pushing the nipple so they see the water drip down. As soon as one starts using it the others follow. Less than 10 minutes each time.