Showing off my new large waterer I built, also looking for advice on large feeders.

[PharmerDonna]

I kinda got tired of having to change the water in the chicken cook practically every other day, despite using one of those 5USG bucket waterers AND a 25L "flip" style waterer...
There was also a hygiene issue with the bucket, the choocks would sit atop the bucket while sleeping, and that often meant their poop falling directly into their drinking cups. Nasty!

I ordered some parts, whole build took a bit to come together, but it's finally complete.
Main components:

• Autofilling drinking cups with T-Fittings
• 1/2" PVC Pipe and 90 degree fitting
• Various bits of scrap wood from previous pprojects
• 2 1/2" PVC Valves. These are very important!
• A water tank (I used a 200L drum)
• 2 Uniseals, since I couldn't find bulkheads that fit...

View attachment 3769142

Used the scrap wood to make a stand for the water tank. Put in two 31mm holes in the drum, one to go to the cups and another for draining the drum if needed.
Fit the Uniseals, connect everything up, and it's working perfectly.
View attachment 3769144

Not pictured: I added a diagonal brace to help brace the stand, and some pavers below the legs.
Not visible is the PVC valves, those have to be there on both pipes. The drinking cup valves can't hold back 200kg of water pressure!
...

Now that I've got water up and figured out, I'm looking for a feeding solution. Something I can toss in 20-50kg of feed into and not worry about it for a while...
I used to use those feeders where you'd cut a port into a box but I have to issues with those:
1. The feed between the ports never actually gets touched and tends to just sit there. Not an issue with a small feeder, but could be a problem if I built a much bgger one.
2. Small birds can get into my run, and multiple times they'd enter the feeder through the port (to eat), get stuck inside, then die and I'd have to toss out a bucket full of feed.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for large, auto-filling, feeders it would be appreciated...

I had a set up like that but was told not to because I needed to treat the water.

 

[canne50]

I kinda got tired of having to change the water in the chicken cook practically every other day, despite using one of those 5USG bucket waterers AND a 25L "flip" style waterer...
There was also a hygiene issue with the bucket, the choocks would sit atop the bucket while sleeping, and that often meant their poop falling directly into their drinking cups. Nasty!

I ordered some parts, whole build took a bit to come together, but it's finally complete.
Main components:

• Autofilling drinking cups with T-Fittings
• 1/2" PVC Pipe and 90 degree fitting
• Various bits of scrap wood from previous pprojects
• 2 1/2" PVC Valves. These are very important!
• A water tank (I used a 200L drum)
• 2 Uniseals, since I couldn't find bulkheads that fit...

View attachment 3769142

Used the scrap wood to make a stand for the water tank. Put in two 31mm holes in the drum, one to go to the cups and another for draining the drum if needed.
Fit the Uniseals, connect everything up, and it's working perfectly.
View attachment 3769144

Not pictured: I added a diagonal brace to help brace the stand, and some pavers below the legs.
Not visible is the PVC valves, those have to be there on both pipes. The drinking cup valves can't hold back 200kg of water pressure!
...

Now that I've got water up and figured out, I'm looking for a feeding solution. Something I can toss in 20-50kg of feed into and not worry about it for a while...
I used to use those feeders where you'd cut a port into a box but I have to issues with those:
1. The feed between the ports never actually gets touched and tends to just sit there. Not an issue with a small feeder, but could be a problem if I built a much bgger one.
2. Small birds can get into my run, and multiple times they'd enter the feeder through the port (to eat), get stuck inside, then die and I'd have to toss out a bucket full of feed.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas for large, auto-filling, feeders it would be appreciated...

I use a 35 gallon plastic trash can with the ports that screw into them on the lower area of the can. It's elevated so it's easier for them to reach. I can put in about 150 pounds of feed and it will last over a month. With new chickens integrated into my flock, they might use that feed in three to four weeks. I added an extra vapor barrier on the lid to discourage moisture and destroying mold. My 5 gal. gravity waterers on short blocks last about 3 days. In Summer I keep my hose on mist over a kiddie pool with concrete blocks in water to help them stay cool. The water never runs out in this setup.
I went to a wedding several states over and the only thing the baby sitter had to do was be sure the mister stayed on and collect eggs. Oh, I have a light activated coop door to their run.
Best to you!
Oops, nearly forgot... I put a slight slope on the feeder to make sure gravity keeps it going towards the cups on one side.

 

[jus10inla]

Heres an automatic feeder setup i built https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wooden-trickle-auto-feeder-instructions.1592675/page-2

Heres more write up of it
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/auto-feeder-with-print-design-i-built.1457102/

 

[Melko]

I would love to
Build this exact system. What is that TWO 1/2 in valves and 1/2 pipes? How many pipes? What size unusual? And would it be to much to ask how you put it
All together

Not much to say, just a big water drum as a resevoir with two uniseals at the bottom and 1/2" PVC pipes.
One lets me empty the drump, the other leads to the watering cups.
You need a valve on both- the watering cups can't hold back the water pressure of the entire water drum!

I've since made some upgrades, added a rim so they won't sit on the wood beam, a float valve to keep the water up, and I changed all the wood to stacked bricks I found after a bad rainstorm completely wrecked the 2x4s