Little Giant Poultry Fountain + Water Hose explained in depth **PICS**

[drb2003]

After much searching through the posts on the forums, I did not find much info on the Little Giant Poultry Fountain. Many things I've read about this fountain are not true at all so I'm trying to show what this little thing can do.

First off it's important to realize how the fountain works. It has to be suspended at least a few inches off the ground to work correctly. The filling mechanism fills until the fountain reaches a specified weight which pulls on an internal spring and shuts off the flow. It doesn't matter whether the water comes from a pressurized water hose, or a hose hooked to a bucket in more of a passive flow setup, the valve holds regardless of the pressure behind the water. When a chicken drinks, and the weight is less in the fountain, the flow resumes to fill the fountain to a specified, preset water level (weight of the fountain really).

I installed one outside and the one you'll see below inside the hen house. The hose comes from the house, goes through an RV pressure regulator, splits into a Y, then each split goes to it's fountain.

These fountains are easily attached to a water hose by using a 1/2" to 3/4" hose bib adapter and a 1/2" to 1/2" nipple. I've already placed teflon tape on the threads of the nipple in the pic below.

(sorry they are sideways)

When the whole system is together it looks like this...

The "U" bolt that I used to hold the hose looks like this...

I like this setup because it will allow me to adjust the fountain higher as the girls grow. I see this setup as being messy with the current high water level because I imagine the girls will bump and spill the waterer quite often since it is hanging with no stabilization. I'm sure I'll need to remedy this soon by adjusting the water level lower and moving it closer to the wall.

Anyhoo, just wanted to correct the rumors I had heard that this system would not work with a pressurized water hose. It was super easy and affordable to set up, and I couldn't be more pleased! Holler if you have questions!

 

[seminolewind]

Looks really cool. Do they knock it around?

 

[whippet128]

That is cool. We use the $6.oo cattle waterer from the farm supply store. We put them in 5 gal pails that we modify (cut up) so the chickens can drink out of them. These float type waterers can take up to 60 lbs of presure from the hose. Thanks for the explination I always wondered how those worked.

 

[drb2003]

Whippet, that sounds like a cool setup too. I scored the poultry fountains for $13 each. I'm not sure of the max pressure of this system, but the RV pressure regulator takes it down to 40-50 psi (I had one laying around). My biggest gripe is that the website (even the manufacturer's website) says NOTHING about how they work or installation...I just bought two and winged it!

Seminolewind...I'm sure they will move it around but their first night in the hen house will be tonight so we will see. Before I even field test it, I think i'll move it closer to the wall for a little stabilization. I may need a PVC pipe that the hose can run though to stabilize it, or I could put another piece of wood across closer to the fountain. I'm trying to wait to do the additional piece of wood across, until they are at full size, plus they probably would just roost on it and poop in the water.

 

[JRchickchick]

These look like a great setup, with some tinkering. If there was more information on the package, it would make more people think about using them!

Locally, these are quite expensive...upwards of $35! (Coastal Farm and Ranch...I love going there, but sometimes you are at the mercy of what they have/charge for sure!).

Thanks for posting your pics, and results.

 

[GallopingGrannie]

Quote:
My chickens would knock mine around so bad that I would have a muddy mess. I took an L bracket secured it to the wall and wired the waterer to that. I love it. takes just a minute to disconnect and disinfect it and put it back on.

 

[ChickInDelight]

I love mine! The chickens circle around it and dip daintily. I don't feed / water inside the coop, so mine is outdoors hanging from my plant hanger (along with plants). Mine is 4 years old, and the bowl is faded and cracked, but still works dandy!

 

[Garden Bird]

I bought one of these yesterday for $15 because it looked like a good solution for a reasonable price. But I didn't read the label at the store and realize now that I bought the 2525 baby chick fountain. It says it will water up to 250 chicks. Am I wrong to think it will water my fourteen full grown chickens?

 

[abbyok]

I bought one of these because I thought it was supposed to automatically shut off water - mine just completely overflowed all over the run! I must admit I am not a handy person (it took me an hour to assemble/hang it) and it didn't come with any instructions. I'm hoping I can get it to work!