Turn A 3 or 5 Gallon Bucket Into A Waterer! These are Great!

[bwalden]

I found these on Murray McMurray's website the other day, looked like it was worth a try so I ordered 3 of them. A little over $30 for 3 of them. I picked up 3 five gallon buckets for about $2.75 each. I had some 1 gallon waterers in my coops I had to fill every day, but with these they last a week. I recommend them to anyone who has to carry water to their coop. The chickens took to them right away. Below is a link to the webpage. I'll add some pics soon.



http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/turn_your_bucket_into_waterer.html

 

[Arielle]

THese look very handy to have!!! Does the bucket stay attached to the "lid" failry well? I think the bucket could tip over easily. How is it working for you?

 

[bwalden]

It stays on really well. The vacuume it forms doesn't allow it to come off until its empty. I tried to pull it off and I couldn't without picking up the bucket and bottom.

 

[Arielle]

Sounds like a bargin then.

 

[bwalden]

Here's a pic of it full of water. I put it on a platform I made of scrap 2x4's to bring it up off the ground to help keep it clean. Considering a 5 gallon waterer at the feed store was around $40 I thought it is a pretty good find.

 

[Arielle]

Here's a pic of it full of water. I put it on a platform I made of scrap 2x4's to bring it up off the ground to help keep it clean. Considering a 5 gallon waterer at the feed store was around $40 I thought it is a pretty good find.

I think this is a tremendous bargin.

I make homemmade waterers using supersized pretzel containers with a screw on lid. a block, a party platter and center the lid, then screw all three together with three screws. Fill, put on lid, turn over and set into a cinder block. While my set works well, I love that yours fits the 5 gal pails and I have a lot of those.

 

[bwalden]

Interesting. Could you post a pic of yours? Always looking for money saving ideas.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The bucket part is easy. You can normally get 2 gallon to 5 gallon buckets free at a deli or bakery. Just make sure you get the lid. I really like free.

My problem was finding that red part you have. I wound up getting a terracotta glazed planter pot base that was more expensive than your solution.

I’ve got water at my coop so it’s not as big a deal as when you have to carry it, but I’ve used those free buckets as waterers like this if I’m in a bind for something quick or maybe short term. This shot shows it as a feeder. Those holes for their heads are about 2-1/2” diameter.

I always like to see how people solve these problems, but I also like to spread the word on those FREE buckets at deli’s or bakeries. As you said, money saving idea!

 

[bwalden]

I like the feeder idea. I've got a 55 gallon plastic barrel with a 10ft piece of 3/4" PVC water pipe coming out of it. Then I took screw in nipple drinkers and put them about every 12" or so. Works pretty well but a few chickens have not figured out there is water in them. Lol! I'll try and add some pics of that too.

 

[Arielle]

I like the nipple waterers in theory but mine seem to always devleop leaks and then the bedding gets wet. Argh. No perfect system.

I make a feeder similar to ridgerunners but the holes are smaller and the feed is fill to the top so it runs out the holes on to a tray. More wasteful than I expected it to be. Too much ends up on the ground. THen it gets wet because of the waterer.

Still working on better systems.