This is so cool! Haven’t seen this set up. I think I (65 year old grandma) can do this! I have over 80 chickens and it wears me out filling water for ducks and chickens at least every other day. Thanks a bunch!
Cool, feeder and water, I watched this video and love the amounts of feed that you can put in it, my 14 year old son has about 30-40 chicken's that he feeds every day after school, his feeder's on hold about 5-7pounds and it don't last long this will help him big time thanks for sharing this video!
I started raising chickens at his age and have became addicted lol. I have around 80 chickens a incubator full of eggs and plan on hatching around 500 this year 😂
I have the same feeders. Did them about 4 yrs ago with those large garbage cans you bring out to the road. A friend worked as a garbage man and got me a few old cans. They work amazing. Love that they have wheels .
Great idea on the feeder... however I build a 5 gallon version of this years ago and once the mice get wind of your feeder, they will empty it out quickly. I converted to a tube style feeder that I built with a hardware cloth top to keep critters out of and it has the ability to close up nightly at the bottom where the chickens feed from. I have not had mice attack my feeders anymore.
How do you make a tube style feeder? My husband's parents had 800 chickens but it was in Sweden . We are in California now with a lot of , for us, unknown critters. Want to make sure our chickens are safe and have food😂
I've done this and will tell you without more ports in that large of a feeder you have a huge area of feed that will sit and go bad/mold. The chickens simply cant reach in and get to the whole bottom to eat so it just sits. A 55 gallon barrel feeder really needs ports all around it to for the most part stop it. I say for the most part because there is still a section in the center they can't reach that sits. As for waterers I use horizonal nipples. I swapped to them 5 years ago and out of the 20 or so in use I think I've had 3 go bad.
Yeah, thanks for the tip. When the feed gets low. I just dump it out so they can scratch through it on the ground. I don't pile new feed on top of old feed. There are all kinds of ways to fix that problem. Like you said, more feed ports is an easy way to fix it.
My grandpa used an old toilet tank with direct water filling. He just took the plunger out. So when the float dropped and the water kicked on it filled the pipe up and filled up the water feeders connected to the pipe.😂
Thank you for this!👍. My husband & I were thinking of going on a trip and he asked me, "what about the chickens? Who's going to feed & water them?" Definitely going to be making both of these.👍 Thank you.🥰🙏
The 55 gallon water is a great idea for people who live off grid and may just be getting started and have to haul water. Its nice to fill it and not worry about refilling every day when it gets hot out.
Great innovation. Thank you for sharing. However, that red drinker seems to be dangling as the chickens touch it. I guess water spillage is possible when they begin playing around, especially as they chase one another
There are kits for those feeders for 5 gallon buckets. Three 5 gallon buckets only last two days. Most of it got wasted. I have 16 birds and they only need 4lbs a day.
Great video! I appreciate the detail you give in building these. The Amazon link for the 3" street elbow is not the same as you used anymore. I was able to find them in a quick internet search. Thank you!
Great video. Loving it. Thanks for sharing the information. Can you please share the height of the wooden base for the chicken waterer? I can see you build of 4x4 wooden material so 32” or 24”
I like the water cup that have the float shut offs. They are cheap and dependable. I always turn the cups up against the bucket or barrel so they don’t get knocked around. I have a few of the little giant hanging basins but they are a bit of a learning curve and $35 each. For 5 hens a 5 gallon bucket is good for a week’s worth of water supply. And easy pick up wash out with spray nozzle or carry to a hose somewhere to get a bath. The feeders here aren’t for me I’d have nice and rats out the wazoo in no time. I use treadle feeders now and rarely see any rats anywhere now.
That didn’t look consensual at 11:35 Lol Thanks for the vid. I’m always looking for improved ideas. Currently looking for Water freezing mitigation. In the spring I’m switching to your dome technique. Thank u
Good stuff. The feeder will work for me, but I live in northern Minnesota, so a heated watering system is a must. I'll figure one out and let you know.
You should use rain gutters and hook them into the barrel and never worry about filling it again. Maybe a filter for debris or a charcoal too to keep water nice. More money but more water.
Your watering drum is great. But what do you do about the rats for the feed? Rats are going to get in your Coupe and go straight for the feed. So what do you do to keep the rats at Bay?
Liked the video and plan to make something similar today with my main man. Just curious how you heat the water in the winter if you're in a cold climate location? ALSO, you experience no overflow of feed out the PVC spouts? Love the simplicity you used. Thanks for sharing with the People!
Hi. I don't have issues with birds pulling out food. If you mix food, such as corn and pellets, or use scratch, then yes you will have issues. Certain birds will like one or the other and then pull it out. If you have this issue just get some duct take and make a little lip on the bottom. Or you could make a drop box underneath to catch the overflow.
like the idea. However, it doesn't look like the chickens can reach the bottom of the feed barrel. If you keep pouring new feed on top how do you keep the feed on the bottom, that they can't reach, from going rancid?
Just got mine installed- same set up for both feeder and waterer. Took a bit from Farmer Boy because the waterer was backordered. Can’t think of a better way to water 44 chickens, soon 52.
I am curious..what happens to all the feed at the bottom of drum. Do you have to empty that ever now and then so it doesn't go bad? Nice video. Good job 👍
@lobo13 Yes I will also make the waterer. I use deep compost bedding in winter for heat in the hoop coop. Then they are on pasture when it is warm. My coop is on skids so I can move it to a new spot and clean up the old area.
I feed about 250 lbs per day and water about 30 gallons per day in my broiler house alone.. Been looking for a good solution to cut down on work.. Not sure I could trust all that water in one container that a malfunction might happen and flood the broiler house or lose birds to lack of.. The feeder has potential with some engineering changes. My floor level also raises about 10-12 inches with every 8 week crop so I like hanging feeders for that reason.. But you have my head working.. Thanks
Hi. Thanks for sharing this design. I’m curious how water doesn’t leak from the hole where the tube fits in. Please let me know. I’m using the deep litter method, and I can’t have water leaking in the coop
Could I do this with a 2 or three gallon Waterer? I have 12 chickens and like to change the water every few days. Thank you for this video! It’s so easy to follow!! Best one yet. I’m going to try this in the next few days😊
One of the best videos I've found so far. How does this waterer hold up over the winter months? Do you have any tips to make this work smoothly over winter?
If it's in direct sunlight it will grow algae. If in the dark, it's not bad at all. But you just clean as needed with a pressure washer or a long brush.
3:50 Run you drill backwards first, to start. Makes it way easier. 5:50 You are taking way more effort than need be to pop those fittings in. Best thing to do is, right before you break through with the hole saw, drill a hole just big enough that lets the knob pass though with easy, at the bottom. When you put the fitting in you simply rotate it into position. Plug the bottom hole with anything the chickens can't rip apart. When it comes time to clean the barrel you can easily take them out. When done get some non treated 3/8ths plywood and cut a diverter plate for the bottom of the barrel. Cut it so the feed slides down to the fittings and there is none back on the other side just sitting there getting old. You can use a bit of cardboard to get the inicial template. Once you get a semi tight fit cut a few layers using the 3/8s. Layers is for the weight of the feed and you can fold the plywood easier to get it in the barrel. Once you get the layers ready to screw together, get a bicycle tire tube (just big enough to pull over the diverter) and slip it over. hopefully you made a good seal. Done this once before for a friend and it worked out nice. However I have done it with cement before and that took way less time and effort. Laid the drum on it's side, at an angle and poured some water in and got the right angle I wanted. And added some food coloring. Drilled a 1/2" hole directly under to let the water out. Marked the line where the food coloring was. Took utility knife and remarked it, Drilled holes in a few places below that line. Got some vinegar and a scotch brite scrubbing pad and scrubbed 1/2in to 3/4" above the line and ALL over under the line, it will not bond well if you do not do this. Screwed in 3in bolts into the holes, to keep the concrete in place for ever just in case it did not bond well. Mixed the concrete and poured it in while keeping the angle. Smoothed it out, brushed the surface for texture. Poured a HIGH gloss oil based paint right on top and let it self level. Took less than the pint but used all of it anyway. The whole process took round 2 hrs. Not counting the overnight to let the concrete set. The concrete being a bit heavier was an added bonus. when the barrel is low the wind won't blow it over. If you want it lighter you can always use the stuff they use in crime scenes to make impressions/molds of footprints and things like that. No need for the paint or bolts. All you need to do is drill some deck screws into it to hold in place. Stuff is cheap and mean not to shrink. Tho getting it away from the wall and making a cone out of some sheet metal may be a way better thing. There are many, online cone making template makers, where you tell it the diameter and how tall and it will tell you what gauge metal to use and how much overlap to do. Predrill holes and pop rivet once it's in the drum. For the water I always tell people to invert the barrel for a better system ( have pix if interested) but for you putting the barrel might be a better thing.
Hey your video is amazing, I will be doing it soon, can you help me out. There are rats and mice at my place. What will I do to prevent the rats from going into the hole and ruining the food inside?
How is the waterer for staying clean?? I find our girls get it so dirty. Maybe i have it hanging too low. 🤔🤔🤔 I like this because i doubt it'll really freeze in winter. We're in the NC mountains. So the temperature next to never gets to cold, at least not for very long. Thanks for a wonderful video & all the practical tips.
Regarding how to keep the water from freezing during the winter when making a waterer of this size? Or if that would even be an issue. We have really cold winters here in Oklahoma. We currently have a 5 gallon waterer that we use a ceramic heat light to keep from freezing. Actually I just realized my solution lol.
Subscribed….. it’s hard to find wateres that are easy to keep clean, chickens always find a way to crap in their water….. the best I used so far was water cups but I might try this, never seen a bell waterer
@@NicholsCounty I put a cage over it so they could only put their heads in and not step on it…… but now I live in an area that freezes so cups are not an option 🙁
I like the waterer, but that line going through a hole has to leak, at least a little. Why not install a bulkhead fitting and quick connect? That's what I'm shopping for to do this same thing with that modification. Thanks for the ideas.
@@NicholsCounty ok, i drilled a 5/16" hole and was able to push the hose through from the outside after warming it a bit with a lighter and it's working great. I can always add a valve later if it starts to leak. Thanks
Thank you for an informative video. I've had chickens for years but am just realizing the benefits of 55 gal drums vs 5 gal bucket. One question....would 55 gal steel drum work for this too (obviously cutting tools would be different) or any tweaks to make it work?
Wow, this is awesome. I’ve been struggling on how to do something like this the only thing is my chicken coop is not big enough to put those drums in there. Do you think they can work from the outside maybe using something different or either way I love this thank you 🤗🙏🏻
Hello. Just wanted to ask you how this feeder is going so far? Aren't you getting troubles woth the rooster, having such large combs, not being able to reach the feed through the holes?
Great video. Getting supplies together now. Do you have a rough estimate on the dimensions for the stand? I know you just through it together but I’d like to make one trip to the store if possible. Thank you!
Thanks a lot. Everything came out beautifully. I ordered the feed ports cause they were cheap and came with the drill bit, super clean and easy to install. Thanks for the help and am looking forward to my 6 chickens having an extremely long term source of feed and water.
I already had one for feeding. But I am getting ready for winter and looking for water solution. I have 80 chickens and was thinking of cutting the rim for the water barrel the same way we have done for the feeder in order to drop a heating element down into it. But I was wondering if by cutting the top for a lid on the water would it create too much gravity and force a leak on the hole for the hose? Anyone know?
If you use the same bell waterer I have you'll be fine. Same with those little water cups. You can always flip the lid upside down as well after you cut it off, won't seal well, but will keep chickens and other things out of there.
Yes. I'm actually going to convert all my coop drinkers like this. Tired of water cups being broken off and flooding my coops. One thing of note, this black line will freeze, where as the water nipple crosses do not.
@@NicholsCounty I live in NW FL. I was looking at making a 55gal waterer and came across your video. Was wondering...how does the waterer STOP dripping so that it doesn't just continuously flow out? I bought the little giant dome waterer and thought, it would be great, not so much. I just need something to ensure my girls have lots of water in the HOT FL sun.
@@elleehunter-jones2337 I'm not really sure, I think it's magic. It just knows when to stop. I have like 4 of these and they all work great. I have a link in the description.
It has a spring valve/ cut off. When the water flows out into the rim the weight lowers the internal mechanism to stop the flow. When they drink it lifts back into the open position letting water flow and the system repeats.
You should have drilled your hole in the barrel, for the water feed line, closer to the bottom because it will still have 4"of stagnant water in the bottom when it drains into the drinker. This way, all the water in the barrel will drain out & not leave 4" of useless water in the barrel.
Water is fluid, it moves. It's not as if the water below the hole gets stagnant. Also, my water level never gets that low. I fill this up every week regardless.
Love your ideas and instructions! Regarding the waterer, does the tube from barrel to Plasson waterer have to hang straight down? I wanted to have barrel outside the run, so the black hose would be more slightly slanted up to the barrel, but I don’t know if that would negatively affect the gravity feed. Any thoughts on that?
I like what you did but, I have a suggestion. Instead of cutting the top of your barrel off and then cutting a hole near the bottom, why not just get a longer piece of hose, put a weight on the end that goes into the barrel. Then drop that into the barrel through one of the existing caps, or I guess you could cut a small hole in the top, like you did on the bottom and then fish the hose to one of the caps to put on the weight, and then pull enough hose through your small hole so that the hose & weight will drop to the bottom of the barrel. Then fasten (tape or glue) the hose down the backside of the barrel and use the siphon method to feed your waterer. You could even put the barrel outside your coop and run just the hose into your coop. As long as the barrel is sitting higher than your waterer, the siphon should work just fine and it should never stop unless you let the barrel run completely out of water, and this would fail regardless of which method you used. You could get a small one way valve so the water will never flow backwards. You could also install a small "T" with a shutoff on the "free" side (the other side would be connected to your waterer) down near your waterer. That way, if for any reason you need to restart the siphon, you don't have to disconnect your waterer. You just hook up another small piece of hose to the "free" side of the "T", open the valve, suck to start the siphon and once the water starts flowing again you close the shutoff.
All that sounds extremely complicated. I didn't cut the top off my waterer, only the feeder. This set up works great as is. Thanks for the tip, I'm sure someone will benefit from your comment.
Not all chickens dump the feed out. Sometimes I'll get a random rooster that likes to feed his ladies and knock feed out. You can do the semi circle plastic you suggested or just make one out of a couple layers of duct tape. I have enough chickens that any feed that spills gets immediately eaten up.
You don't control the amount of water that comes out. The bell waterer automatically does that (there is a weight in the bell waterer that holds it level and when it senses low water it auto fills). All you have to do is give it a water source.
These are how how to videos should be, simple to the point, no ego. Well done and I thank you
Thanks, appreciate that.
And with humor. Well done
literaly hundreds of videos on how to do this, BUt this is the easiest and simplest by far. Step one cut a hole, step two shove fitting in. DONE!
Yeah, those street elbows work perfect for these. Glad I figured it out.
@@NicholsCountyonly thing I may be wrong but wouldn't the waterer be better away from the window to prevent algae buildup?
Great build. I’m about to cut my barrel. Last question. Did your roosters have any trouble getting big heads in to eat?
This is so cool! Haven’t seen this set up. I think I (65 year old grandma) can do this! I have over 80 chickens and it wears me out filling water for ducks and chickens at least every other day. Thanks a bunch!
It definitely helps. You only have to haul every couple of weeks
So, do we think this would be a suitable solution for a guard goose too? 👀 That would be fabulous.
Guys if you love what you watch thumbs up, I’m gonna try this in my farm as well
Thanks!
Cool, feeder and water, I watched this video and love the amounts of feed that you can put in it, my 14 year old son has about 30-40 chicken's that he feeds every day after school, his feeder's on hold about 5-7pounds and it don't last long this will help him big time thanks for sharing this video!
You bet! I make a bunch of these for people around here.
I started raising chickens at his age and have became addicted lol. I have around 80 chickens a incubator full of eggs and plan on hatching around 500 this year 😂
I have the same feeders. Did them about 4 yrs ago with those large garbage cans you bring out to the road. A friend worked as a garbage man and got me a few old cans. They work amazing. Love that they have wheels .
They work well, too. But buying them new was more expensive than these bigger blue barrels.
I'm hoping to get some used ones from a defunct trash company this week. Will power wash it out. I think they are asking$30 each
Great idea on the feeder... however I build a 5 gallon version of this years ago and once the mice get wind of your feeder, they will empty it out quickly. I converted to a tube style feeder that I built with a hardware cloth top to keep critters out of and it has the ability to close up nightly at the bottom where the chickens feed from. I have not had mice attack my feeders anymore.
Yeah mice are an issue. But I have way too many chickens to use tube style feeders.
How do you make a tube style feeder?
My husband's parents had 800 chickens but it was in Sweden . We are in California now with a lot of , for us, unknown critters. Want to make sure our chickens are safe and have food😂
I add cayenne pepper to my chicken feed; actually good for parasites in the chickens and the chickens can’t taste it. Mice will run away! 😅
@@jackiecolesworthy942 Great idea, thanks. Do you use flakes or just the powder??
@@georgeingridirwin6180 I use the powder, purchased in 5 lb containers from Amazon.
I've done this and will tell you without more ports in that large of a feeder you have a huge area of feed that will sit and go bad/mold. The chickens simply cant reach in and get to the whole bottom to eat so it just sits. A 55 gallon barrel feeder really needs ports all around it to for the most part stop it. I say for the most part because there is still a section in the center they can't reach that sits.
As for waterers I use horizonal nipples. I swapped to them 5 years ago and out of the 20 or so in use I think I've had 3 go bad.
Yeah, thanks for the tip. When the feed gets low. I just dump it out so they can scratch through it on the ground. I don't pile new feed on top of old feed. There are all kinds of ways to fix that problem. Like you said, more feed ports is an easy way to fix it.
I suggest a cone shape of some kind to sit in the center (might have to glue it to remain in the center)
You sir, ARE AWSOME!! I have been looking to build this, i am done with consumer-grade gear. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
You bet. Cheap, easy, and efficient.
Thanks for sharing this. The fittings for the feeders are genius!
You bet! They also sell screw on ones on Amazon.
My grandpa used an old toilet tank with direct water filling. He just took the plunger out. So when the float dropped and the water kicked on it filled the pipe up and filled up the water feeders connected to the pipe.😂
Nice
Thank you for this!👍. My husband & I were thinking of going on a trip and he asked me, "what about the chickens? Who's going to feed & water them?"
Definitely going to be making both of these.👍
Thank you.🥰🙏
You're welcome. They're easy to build and great for vacations.
Well done! Proud of u showing us this. I'm definitely going to have a go. From the United Kingdom xx
Thanks.
The 55 gallon water is a great idea for people who live off grid and may just be getting started and have to haul water. Its nice to fill it and not worry about refilling every day when it gets hot out.
Yeah I check on mine once a week or so.
Great video. I’m going to do this with a 5 gallon bucket. My flock isn’t quite big enough for 55 gallons 👍🏻
That works too
Great innovation. Thank you for sharing.
However, that red drinker seems to be dangling as the chickens touch it. I guess water spillage is possible when they begin playing around, especially as they chase one another
No it's weighted. I mean if they hit it hard enough sure. But that's why I built that table for them.
Very well made video, simple, easy to follow.
Glad it was helpful!
There are kits for those feeders for 5 gallon buckets.
Three 5 gallon buckets only last two days. Most of it got wasted. I have 16 birds and they only need 4lbs a day.
Get a 55 gallon drum. Last you 11x longer
@@NicholsCounty yeah that cost me a fortune in feed. They only need one scoop a day
This was amazing..you have earned my subscription!
Thanks.
Great video! I appreciate the detail you give in building these.
The Amazon link for the 3" street elbow is not the same as you used anymore. I was able to find them in a quick internet search. Thank you!
Thanks for letting me.
Great video. Loving it. Thanks for sharing the information. Can you please share the height of the wooden base for the chicken waterer? I can see you build of 4x4 wooden material so 32” or 24”
I just kind of eye balled it. Probably about 24-28 inches. Doesn't matter as long as its taller than the waterer.
Just got my stuff to make me the feeder and water...I Love your idea. can't wait to get them done...
Great. Thanks for watching!
I like the water cup that have the float shut offs. They are cheap and dependable. I always turn the cups up against the bucket or barrel so they don’t get knocked around. I have a few of the little giant hanging basins but they are a bit of a learning curve and $35 each. For 5 hens a 5 gallon bucket is good for a week’s worth of water supply. And easy pick up wash out with spray nozzle or carry to a hose somewhere to get a bath.
The feeders here aren’t for me I’d have nice and rats out the wazoo in no time. I use treadle feeders now and rarely see any rats anywhere now.
Yeah these are more for bigger flocks. Mice are always an issue around any open feed, but yes this is definitely not mouse proof.
That didn’t look consensual at 11:35 Lol
Thanks for the vid. I’m always looking for improved ideas. Currently looking for
Water freezing mitigation. In the spring I’m switching to your dome technique. Thank u
It never is haha.
Thanks for showing what the tab is for on the 3 in. pipe. Now I can use the liquid nail for something else. Yes, I am mentally challenged! DUH
Yeah I don't think that's what that tab is meant for but it definitely makes for a good chicken feeder.
Good stuff. The feeder will work for me, but I live in northern Minnesota, so a heated watering system is a must. I'll figure one out and let you know.
Yes this will definitely freeze. If you have heat tape that might work.
Did you figure out something to keep it from freezing ?
Up here in Michigan the waterer wouldn't work in winter.
Appreciate your video. Ty❤
Yeah. Mine freezes up as well. You can get a heater
Very good I like it, simple! thanks for sharing. Thinking about options for quail and I think I could do something similar scaled down.
Yeah a 5 gallon bucket would work.
Looks awesome. Cold winters where we live. Very sad!
Yeah that tube will freeze right up
that is awesome. so simple, but perfect. great video. thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it!
Wow that’s a time saver for sure.
Yes it is.
You should use rain gutters and hook them into the barrel and never worry about filling it again. Maybe a filter for debris or a charcoal too to keep water nice. More money but more water.
That's definitely a good plan for one or two. But I have 9 of these barrels.
Your watering drum is great. But what do you do about the rats for the feed? Rats are going to get in your Coupe and go straight for the feed. So what do you do to keep the rats at Bay?
I have bucket traps. You're never going to keep mice out of an old barn like this. They'll always find a way.
It's called an outside cat,I have 2 an no rats!!
Liked the video and plan to make something similar today with my main man. Just curious how you heat the water in the winter if you're in a cold climate location? ALSO, you experience no overflow of feed out the PVC spouts? Love the simplicity you used. Thanks for sharing with the People!
Hi. I don't have issues with birds pulling out food. If you mix food, such as corn and pellets, or use scratch, then yes you will have issues. Certain birds will like one or the other and then pull it out. If you have this issue just get some duct take and make a little lip on the bottom. Or you could make a drop box underneath to catch the overflow.
Love this idea ! What about keeping it from freezing ?
You can add a heater. Or move to a nicer place that doesn't have freezing weather :).
Haha!
like the idea. However, it doesn't look like the chickens can reach the bottom of the feed barrel. If you keep pouring new feed on top how do you keep the feed on the bottom, that they can't reach, from going rancid?
When it gets to the bottom you don't keep pouring feed on top. Problem fixed. Dump the feed on the ground. They eat it.
Love the waterer feed is no big deal but hate filling waterers
Yeah I hear you.
Just got mine installed- same set up for both feeder and waterer. Took a bit from Farmer Boy because the waterer was backordered. Can’t think of a better way to water 44 chickens, soon 52.
Nice. I hope your wood water stand was as sweet as mine.
Well done. Even a less than tech person like myself thinks she may be able to accomplish
Great!
I am curious..what happens to all the feed at the bottom of drum. Do you have to empty that ever now and then so it doesn't go bad?
Nice video. Good job 👍
When it gets low I dump it for the chickens to scratch through.
I love the chickens at the end
I love them too.
Excited to build this, thanks so much! One question. Have you problems with algae with the waterer?
Yeah it does build up if it's in direct sun. If it's in the shade its not a problem.
@@NicholsCounty The shade it is. Thanks again for the guidance and the prompt response. God bless and have a great weekend!
Love this! I'm going to do this for my winter coop!
Sounds great!
Curious...are you going to do the waterer?.. do you heat your coop. Ty
@lobo13 Yes I will also make the waterer.
I use deep compost bedding in winter for heat in the hoop coop. Then they are on pasture when it is warm. My coop is on skids so I can move it to a new spot and clean up the old area.
Nice! I especially like the waterer. Thanks.
Thanks
I feed about 250 lbs per day and water about 30 gallons per day in my broiler house alone.. Been looking for a good solution to cut down on work.. Not sure I could trust all that water in one container that a malfunction might happen and flood the broiler house or lose birds to lack of.. The feeder has potential with some engineering changes. My floor level also raises about 10-12 inches with every 8 week crop so I like hanging feeders for that reason.. But you have my head working.. Thanks
This waterer is legit. I haven't had a single issue with it since I installed it a year ago. But I do understand the concern. Good luck.
What size hole saw did you use? I seen other vids saying they reduce by 1/8 to make it tighter or did you happen to just use a 3" with success?
I’m going to be adding this to mine great idea love it!
Thanks!
We make automatic chicken waterers that hook up to the garden hose. Look up farmer brad chicken waterers!
I can't risk them failing and flooding out my coops.
You could put a timer where it turns on the water two times a day if that is a concern.
Hi. Thanks for sharing this design. I’m curious how water doesn’t leak from the hole where the tube fits in. Please let me know. I’m using the deep litter method, and I can’t have water leaking in the coop
You drill the hole slightly smaller than the tube. I have 14 waterers like this (55 gallon and 5 gallon). None of them leak.
Could I do this with a 2 or three gallon Waterer? I have 12 chickens and like to change the water every few days. Thank you for this video! It’s so easy to follow!! Best one yet. I’m going to try this in the next few days😊
Thanks. Yes, you can do this with any size container. 5 gallon buck would probably be the easiest as they're so readily available.
Thanks never heard of bell water. Keen as
They are the best.
Has anyone used these for ducks with success? Great idea.
I think they would spill a lot of water. But it would work.
One of the best videos I've found so far. How does this waterer hold up over the winter months? Do you have any tips to make this work smoothly over winter?
Our winters aren't bad here so it does well. If you have bad winters I recommend heat tape.
Thank you
I'm just curious but with a big amount of water just sitting there doesn't it build a slim inside the drum and if so howbdo you solve it?
If it's in direct sunlight it will grow algae. If in the dark, it's not bad at all. But you just clean as needed with a pressure washer or a long brush.
3:50 Run you drill backwards first, to start. Makes it way easier.
5:50 You are taking way more effort than need be to pop those fittings in. Best thing to do is, right before you break through with the hole saw, drill a hole just big enough that lets the knob pass though with easy, at the bottom. When you put the fitting in you simply rotate it into position. Plug the bottom hole with anything the chickens can't rip apart. When it comes time to clean the barrel you can easily take them out.
When done get some non treated 3/8ths plywood and cut a diverter plate for the bottom of the barrel. Cut it so the feed slides down to the fittings and there is none back on the other side just sitting there getting old. You can use a bit of cardboard to get the inicial template. Once you get a semi tight fit cut a few layers using the 3/8s. Layers is for the weight of the feed and you can fold the plywood easier to get it in the barrel. Once you get the layers ready to screw together, get a bicycle tire tube (just big enough to pull over the diverter) and slip it over. hopefully you made a good seal. Done this once before for a friend and it worked out nice.
However I have done it with cement before and that took way less time and effort. Laid the drum on it's side, at an angle and poured some water in and got the right angle I wanted. And added some food coloring. Drilled a 1/2" hole directly under to let the water out. Marked the line where the food coloring was. Took utility knife and remarked it, Drilled holes in a few places below that line. Got some vinegar and a scotch brite scrubbing pad and scrubbed 1/2in to 3/4" above the line and ALL over under the line, it will not bond well if you do not do this. Screwed in 3in bolts into the holes, to keep the concrete in place for ever just in case it did not bond well. Mixed the concrete and poured it in while keeping the angle. Smoothed it out, brushed the surface for texture. Poured a HIGH gloss oil based paint right on top and let it self level. Took less than the pint but used all of it anyway. The whole process took round 2 hrs. Not counting the overnight to let the concrete set. The concrete being a bit heavier was an added bonus. when the barrel is low the wind won't blow it over. If you want it lighter you can always use the stuff they use in crime scenes to make impressions/molds of footprints and things like that. No need for the paint or bolts. All you need to do is drill some deck screws into it to hold in place. Stuff is cheap and mean not to shrink.
Tho getting it away from the wall and making a cone out of some sheet metal may be a way better thing. There are many, online cone making template makers, where you tell it the diameter and how tall and it will tell you what gauge metal to use and how much overlap to do. Predrill holes and pop rivet once it's in the drum.
For the water I always tell people to invert the barrel for a better system ( have pix if interested) but for you putting the barrel might be a better thing.
Thanks for the tips. I ended up making a diverted for the feed a while back ago.
Hey your video is amazing, I will be doing it soon, can you help me out. There are rats and mice at my place. What will I do to prevent the rats from going into the hole and ruining the food inside?
They won't borrow into the feed. But this type of feeder will attract more mice. Get some bucket traps and bait with peanut butter.
Very very creative. Thanks
Thanks.
Very good and helping me a lot
Great!
How is the waterer for staying clean?? I find our girls get it so dirty. Maybe i have it hanging too low. 🤔🤔🤔
I like this because i doubt it'll really freeze in winter. We're in the NC mountains. So the temperature next to never gets to cold, at least not for very long.
Thanks for a wonderful video & all the practical tips.
You have to clean it every now and then. But as long as it's out of the sun won't grow algae as fast.
@@NicholsCounty thanks
@NicholsCounty what kind of feed do you give your chicks? Thanks for this great video
I do medicated chick starter for chicks and pellets for full grown birds
Hello just checking on how the Plasson bell drinker is doing with the gravity fed water source , thank you
Great. I have like 8 of them now.
Regarding how to keep the water from freezing during the winter when making a waterer of this size? Or if that would even be an issue. We have really cold winters here in Oklahoma. We currently have a 5 gallon waterer that we use a ceramic heat light to keep from freezing. Actually I just realized my solution lol.
The tube will freeze before the water barrel. Heat tape works well.
Easy steps to follow, good work 😊
Thanks a lot 😊
Thanks for the awesome feeder video!!!!
Thanks for watching!
Great idea will be sure to try it soon thank you
Awesome. Hope it turns out for you as good as it did for me.
Suggest a tapped fitting into barrel. When the tube gets hot/cold/brittle it could leak.
I haven't had any issues yet. 100 degrees in the summer. 0 degrees in winter. It does freeze.
@@NicholsCounty it sometimes happens when the tube gets stiff after a few (3?) Years. If shaded well, it may not.
Great video!
...A great video...thank you ,Sir🇨🇦
Thanks.
Nice set up.
Thanks
Subscribed….. it’s hard to find wateres that are easy to keep clean, chickens always find a way to crap in their water….. the best I used so far was water cups but I might try this, never seen a bell waterer
Water cups work, but they break. And if you have a 55 gallon drum full, then it's a lot of water on the ground.
@@NicholsCounty I put a cage over it so they could only put their heads in and not step on it…… but now I live in an area that freezes so cups are not an option 🙁
Great idea! Thanks for sahring.
You are so welcome!
I like the waterer, but that line going through a hole has to leak, at least a little. Why not install a bulkhead fitting and quick connect? That's what I'm shopping for to do this same thing with that modification. Thanks for the ideas.
It doesn't leak. Made this 2 years ago. Not a drop lost. Just have to drill the right size hole. I have 7 of these waterers.
@@NicholsCounty ok, i drilled a 5/16" hole and was able to push the hose through from the outside after warming it a bit with a lighter and it's working great. I can always add a valve later if it starts to leak. Thanks
Thank you for an informative video. I've had chickens for years but am just realizing the benefits of 55 gal drums vs 5 gal bucket. One question....would 55 gal steel drum work for this too (obviously cutting tools would be different) or any tweaks to make it work?
Yeah. They should work just fine. If you use one for water, you'll need some sort of fitting. Also, it could rust eventually.
This is great! Thanks for sharing.
You are so welcome!
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.
You bet!
That's really helpful bub. Thanks
You bet.
Nice work 😎 what brand hole saw is that btw?
Spyder
Wow, this is awesome. I’ve been struggling on how to do something like this the only thing is my chicken coop is not big enough to put those drums in there. Do you think they can work from the outside maybe using something different or either way I love this thank you 🤗🙏🏻
Yes, of course. The tube is long enough for the waterer. The feeder would be kind of hard to do without a bunch of modifications.
Tractor supply (where I live) sells those barrels now for $150, no joke.
Yeah was at rural king today and saw a plain burn barrel going got 39.99. Crazy.
Hello. Just wanted to ask you how this feeder is going so far? Aren't you getting troubles woth the rooster, having such large combs, not being able to reach the feed through the holes?
It works good. Does cause mice problems. Roosters eat just fine.
Hey man I'm most definitely gonna make me some of these
Great. They work well.
Great video. Getting supplies together now. Do you have a rough estimate on the dimensions for the stand? I know you just through it together but I’d like to make one trip to the store if possible. Thank you!
Just measured. It's approximately 25"x25"x25".
Thanks a lot. Everything came out beautifully. I ordered the feed ports cause they were cheap and came with the drill bit, super clean and easy to install. Thanks for the help and am looking forward to my 6 chickens having an extremely long term source of feed and water.
Great video, will definitely try it. Thank you.
Great. Let me know how it turns out.
So do you not have to silicone around the tubing of the waterer?
No. Not of you drill the correct hole size.
Are you having any trouble with the chickens jumping up on barrel stand and pooping all over it ?
Not in this pen. But I have had it be an issue in other pens.
I already had one for feeding. But I am getting ready for winter and looking for water solution. I have 80 chickens and was thinking of cutting the rim for the water barrel the same way we have done for the feeder in order to drop a heating element down into it. But I was wondering if by cutting the top for a lid on the water would it create too much gravity and force a leak on the hole for the hose? Anyone know?
If you use the same bell waterer I have you'll be fine. Same with those little water cups. You can always flip the lid upside down as well after you cut it off, won't seal well, but will keep chickens and other things out of there.
No worries; the water weighs the same with or without a lid.
You posted this 9 months ago.. are you still happy with the bell waterer? Thinking about setting up the same system you have. Thanks
Yes. I'm actually going to convert all my coop drinkers like this. Tired of water cups being broken off and flooding my coops. One thing of note, this black line will freeze, where as the water nipple crosses do not.
@@NicholsCounty I live in NW FL. I was looking at making a 55gal waterer and came across your video. Was wondering...how does the waterer STOP dripping so that it doesn't just continuously flow out? I bought the little giant dome waterer and thought, it would be great, not so much. I just need something to ensure my girls have lots of water in the HOT FL sun.
@@elleehunter-jones2337 I'm not really sure, I think it's magic. It just knows when to stop. I have like 4 of these and they all work great. I have a link in the description.
@Ellee Hunter-Jones the pressure from air in it, keeps it from constantly flowing out.
It has a spring valve/
cut off. When the water flows out into the rim the weight lowers the internal mechanism to stop the flow. When they drink it lifts back into the open position letting water flow and the system repeats.
You should have drilled your hole in the barrel, for the water feed line, closer to the bottom because it will still have 4"of stagnant water in the bottom when it drains into the drinker. This way, all the water in the barrel will drain out & not leave 4" of useless water in the barrel.
Water is fluid, it moves. It's not as if the water below the hole gets stagnant. Also, my water level never gets that low. I fill this up every week regardless.
Love your ideas and instructions! Regarding the waterer, does the tube from barrel to Plasson waterer have to hang straight down? I wanted to have barrel outside the run, so the black hose would be more slightly slanted up to the barrel, but I don’t know if that would negatively affect the gravity feed. Any thoughts on that?
As long as your water bucket is higher than the bell waterer, it will work.
This is great 👍 thank you for sharing
You bet.
What about the feed that will always sit at the bottom. Get stale or mould.
And how does the feed go into the pipe when the pipe is facing down?
When the feed level gets to the bottom, I just dump it for the chickens to eat off the ground. The pipes are facing the correct way.
I like what you did but, I have a suggestion. Instead of cutting the top of your barrel off and then cutting a hole near the bottom, why not just get a longer piece of hose, put a weight on the end that goes into the barrel. Then drop that into the barrel through one of the existing caps, or I guess you could cut a small hole in the top, like you did on the bottom and then fish the hose to one of the caps to put on the weight, and then pull enough hose through your small hole so that the hose & weight will drop to the bottom of the barrel. Then fasten (tape or glue) the hose down the backside of the barrel and use the siphon method to feed your waterer. You could even put the barrel outside your coop and run just the hose into your coop. As long as the barrel is sitting higher than your waterer, the siphon should work just fine and it should never stop unless you let the barrel run completely out of water, and this would fail regardless of which method you used.
You could get a small one way valve so the water will never flow backwards.
You could also install a small "T" with a shutoff on the "free" side (the other side would be connected to your waterer) down near your waterer. That way, if for any reason you need to restart the siphon, you don't have to disconnect your waterer. You just hook up another small piece of hose to the "free" side of the "T", open the valve, suck to start the siphon and once the water starts flowing again you close the shutoff.
All that sounds extremely complicated. I didn't cut the top off my waterer, only the feeder. This set up works great as is. Thanks for the tip, I'm sure someone will benefit from your comment.
Is there a reason you didn't cut the hose shorter for the waterer? Instead of wrapping it around like you did.
Not really. Just to keep the hose long in case I need it. But it makes no difference.
You can put a semi-circle piece of plastic onto the front of the feeder entrance so that the feed does not spill out onto the ground...
Not all chickens dump the feed out. Sometimes I'll get a random rooster that likes to feed his ladies and knock feed out. You can do the semi circle plastic you suggested or just make one out of a couple layers of duct tape. I have enough chickens that any feed that spills gets immediately eaten up.
The only thing I did not catch was how you rigged up the water to regulate how much water is coming through the hose
You don't control the amount of water that comes out. The bell waterer automatically does that (there is a weight in the bell waterer that holds it level and when it senses low water it auto fills). All you have to do is give it a water source.
@@NicholsCounty
That is exactly what I was talking about...... A method of regulating the water
@@ryanlevron1972 Yeah I guess I should have explained it better in the video. Just assume it's magic.
Where did you get those drums for $25 I'm looking and can't find them at that price
FB marketplace. They are readily available here.
Is there a mechanism on the bell waterer to stop the flow once it reaches a certain level?
Yes.
this video was great!
Thanks!
Good ideas for none freezing months
Move to Tennessee. Works year round, mostly.
So that water tube doesn’t leak? No silicone??? What about mice? They don’t get into your feeder?
The water tube doesn't leak as long as the hole is small enough. Any open feeder will attract mice.
Good job
Thanks