Ideas for a large feeder and waterer please!

[TheAmundsons]

We are moving our coop to a much larger barn this spring, which means we get to redo our entire setup. We're super excited about improving things! That being said, we are looking into making DIY feeders and waterers. We want to make something that will last several days, maybe even a week if possible. We currently have 10 chickens and 3 ducks, but plan to drastically grow our flock once this coop is ready. I have looked at the different articles and forums on here, and that has provided some good ideas for the feeder, but I'd love to hear some specific ideas that are loved. I haven't really seen many ideas for large waterers, and we'd need it to be something that wouldn't be difficult to make heated for winter. We struggled with our water situation this winter, and we're hoping to drastically improve it.

Side question: can ducks drink from nipples? I know they need access to water to clean out their eyes and nares, but I'm just curious if they're able to use the nipples.

 

[PirateGirl]

Take a look through the articles for some inspiration. Lot's of people on here have made quite efficient waterers and feeders from common materials.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/feeders-waterers.26/

You mentioned heated and mentioned nipples, however even with heated water generally nipples and cups will freeze.

 

[blackdog043]

I have a 14 gallon and a 5 gallon horizontal nipple waterer. They can both be easily made into a heated waterer. Make sure you use a non floating stock tank de icer and the horizontal nipples will not freeze.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

For feeders, I use DIY no waste feeders. I have a 5 and 7 gallon.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...cket-feeder-for-about-3.834227/#post-12233274

 

[PouleChick]

Looking forward to the replies on this thread, I also need to make my systems easier to manage!

 

[Pekin747]

Large drinker
First get a 20 litre drum get a drill and drill around the drinker roughly half ways and if they cant get their heads in just put block around it
It used to do my 20 chickens 3 days but I never let it run empty and then I hooked it up 2 an abc so I never have 2 fill it and they are never without water
Feeder
Same idea as what's in the pic just instead of the plants put a board that leaves around 2 to 4 inches at each side for the birds head and they cant then kick it out

 

[aart]

can ducks drink from nipples?

I think they can drink from horizontal nipples, remembering see it,
and HN's are the best for heated waterers.
Yes, they will need to clear nares by dunking them...not sure if that needs to be available all the time or just a couple times a day.

 

[wamtazlady]

The easiest waterers are the ones using a container, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer in winter in my opinion. The container can be many different things that hold water. Blackdog043 uses the large blue container. I use a plastic tote. Others use 5 gallon buckets or large jugs. With 12 chickens my 10 gallon tote kept the birds in water for more than a week. The water has stayed thawed even when it was -22 F. I have had problems in summer with alga with mine as it is semi clear. Will be experimenting this summer with various solutions from covering the tote so no light gets in to putting copper pennies in the tote.

I agree with aart. I think I read where ducks can use the nipples. However, they must be able to dunk their whole heads in water regularly.

 

[PirateGirl]

Just jumping in on the duck water... they dunk their heads sooooo often and play in the water soooo much it stays thawed 10 times as long as the chicken water.

 

[TheAmundsons]

Thanks for all the suggestions! @blackdog043 I had seen your post about your waterer and I think we may give that a shot for next winter! We definitely would like to have something that size, and your setup seems like it would work well in what will be the coop.

@Pekin747 do you have any pictures of the waterer you're describing? I'm having trouble visualizing it. With using the trough for food, my concern is that if we stick a PVC coming up from each end, I don't think it would refill enough. We currently store our extra feed in a rubbermaid tote, and I've seen people convert those to feeders, or make DIY feeders with a similar idea. I'm thinking we might try making something that can hold about 100lbs of food, that the chickens and ducks will just have access to through a few holes in the side. That way we don't have to have a separate storage spot for the food, and can just add to it as needed, making sure the old feed gets eaten first.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! We aren't set on our coop design, so I'd still love to hear any other ideas people have!

 

[blackdog043]

Thanks for all the suggestions! @blackdog043 I had seen your post about your waterer and I think we may give that a shot for next winter! We definitely would like to have something that size, and your setup seems like it would work well in what will be the coop.

Just an FYI, the bottom of the 14 gallon drum is the same size as a 5 gallon bucket. I got the drum from amazon, paid $28 something. The price does fluctuate on it, so just keep an eye on it, if you decide to get one.