If you live in a cold winter area you can add a water miser on the end of a hose near the bucket on a Y to keep your hose from freezing over and not having to bury pipe. Works amazingly.
That is a great tip! I really appreciate it. I don't have chickens yet because I'm in the research stage and relatively new to living on my homestead. This I will try :)
Great idea. It will save me and my wife time. I used the links to order the cups and the float valve. We also ordered the bucket with the screw on top so it can be easy to open and clean if needed. Thank you.
Raise the water cups high enough from the bottom so you can set the bucket on the ground without damaging them. Also a square bucket like kitty litter comes in makes it easier to seal your connections. Lessons learned from years of experience. Never tried the float vale and the overflow is a great idea..
This is brilliant! I’ve been looking for something that could replace my Chicken Fountain that just failed after several years. I’ve found many DIYs that’s are “ok”, but this one is just head and shoulders above! Thank you!
Ordered the cups and the float valve was out of stock, so just bought another brand. Great video! I live in Northern California where it's triple digits in the late spring through early Fall. My 4 hens drink a lot of water. The thought of them almost dying due to water is criminal. As soon as I get these, I'm putting it together. I just moved to this homestead in Nov 2020. I've had to make due for the chickens. They're in a luxurious shed the prior owner had just built with a concrete slab. I just needed to outfit it for the girls. Last week I built the run. Next, I will build the roof to it. They are locked in at night when predators are around, but the run has impenetrable bear and lion-proof steel fencing on 6x6 frames with 2x2 frames inside. I take no chances. I subscribed! Great content.
I’ve got some 3/4” pipe mounted cups and originally planned to build a small water tower that feeds them. Had a wood box with a plastic bucket hidden inside. I’m in Arizona, so it’s pretty hot… I insulated between the bucket & the box… only thing is, the plastic bucket split in the heat before I was able to set it up. Ultimately I think I might try to find a small RV water tank & stash it in my air conditioned coop, and supply water from there? Otherwise, I’ve got another bucket similar to yours without the auto-fill. Cool feature! Great videos by the way - I like the solar ones too! I’m gonna have to take advantage of some of this sun.
I enjoyed learning how to add an auto fill valve and overflow to the "cup" style 5 gallon bucket waterer! I made a 3 quart "cup" waterer for my brooder but never realized how easily it would be to make a bucket auto fill with an overflow! Thank you for another great idea and how to video!
I know Im asking randomly but does anybody know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly lost my password. I appreciate any help you can offer me.
@Cruz Payton Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
Very nice vid. I just got the watering cups in today. I live in N.C. and it does get cold here in the winter. I got a heater from Tractor Supply to sit the 5 gallon bucket on. I am not going to do the float valve. I will take the lid of the bucket and use some PVC fittings to fill the bucket up. Very nice vid. Thanks.
Thanks for the video, we made this as instructed. One problem, the water in the cups gets dirty quickly (like hours) - I think it's because our birds free-range and get muddy beaks!
This is exactly the vision ive had so thanks for showing me how to make it come to fruition. Now that 4 years have passed, do you have any suggested updates?
@@fludrbywest3886 I've seen those as well, but my thoughts were that wouldn't they attract mosquitos to lay their eggs in if the holes are open that wide? The cups seem to make an airtight connection to the bucket and with a lid, no pests can get in
I have those cups, I find they start to get dark spots in the cups so need to scrub periodically. I thought of the float valve but didn't get to it. Also, hang the bucket high enough the chickens will drink at shoulder height. AND check often because 4-5gallons will heat up to ambient temps, currently 100° during the summer. Way too HOT.
I have a 5 gallon waterer just like that but has different cups..I like the ones in this video and might replace the ones I have currently but I can tell you I thought how am I going to teach the chickens to use this as they were a few years old and never ever had one before......I just tapped the bottom of the yellow thing in the cups and water filled the cup and the chickens figured it out after that..... and they empty it often so it does work and the chickens use it! I don't know this TH-cam nor endorse any products .... just letting you know my personal exp. using one. The yellow thing that keys the water fill the cups on mine he makes mention of at the end.... mine have not failed but all things eventually fail in time so 🤷♀️..I just like the cup size he uses more then the ones I have is why I might switch.
I followed manufactures Direction and put the watering cups one inch from the bottom. And it works as long as you put it on the edge of some blocks. But if I were to do it again I would put it hi enough so the bottom of the cup never is lower than the bottom of the bucket maybe like 2 inhes from bottom of a bucket. What do you think.
Any thoughts as to if this would work with gravity fed? I use those plastic square water tanks that we fill every few weeks. I have a hose in the bottom of it and fill my buckets that way. Wondering if the float valve would work with this system.
Judging by the way the cups are tilted back toward the bucket I think maybe the 1 inch from the bottom instruction was intended to place the wedge shaped part under the bucket.
Hi I’m getting ready to set mine up. I’m a little worried about algae forming. In Arizona and it gets pretty hot here. Do you add anything to the water to help? Like apple cider vinegar? Someone mentioned it but not sure if that would help.
We keep many of ours in shaded areas. Most of the time I make them out of buckets that are a dark color and I do not have any issue if it is in the sun for a short period of time.
I heard not to use acv if it's really hot. Make sure you check the bucket because a white one still gets very heated in our temps. I dump mine out 2x a day
I love it! There are a number of these on Amazon that look similar, but I'd like to make sure I'm getting the right ones - would you mind providing a link? Thanks!
The bucket needs to be black to prevent algae growing in the water. Painting the outside will work very well. But, I know, sunlight will cause the black to heat the water, so, maybe foil on the outside......
Thank you so much. I guess we don't have messy chickens. I clean mine out about every 2 weeks or so. I use a bottle brush and then twist over the cups to let the dirt and dirty water spill out.
I love the idea of the float, but I can't implement it since it gets cold where I live. What I did in the end: * got a 55 gallon, food grade barrel I had lying around (that I paid $11 for) * put a $30, 500W heater in it. It only turns on when the water is near freezing * drilled two holes, one on top of the other and put two bulkhead fittings, then garden hose connectors, a stainless steel washing machine hose for each, a small pump on the inlet side (which I have plugged into a temperature controlled outlet), then a 1 inch, 4 foot long pvc bar that I screwed 5 nipples into * (what I haven't done yet) Will connect a gutter to it to catch the rain water. What does this do for me? * 55 gallons of water? Yeah, my 8 girls aren't going through that any time soon! Even if I never connect it to a gutter, I might have to fill it up, what? 3 times a year? Maybe 4? But trust me, I'll eventually connect it to a gutter. * No freezing? The lowest temperature we've seen so far is 18F. No problems at all. The pump kicks on at 37F and constantly circulates warm water into the PVC bar. I prefer the nipples over the cups for a few reasons. 1. Obviously, in the winter time, even with a heater, the water in the cup will freeze. 2. I've seen videos of people that use cups. The water still gets dirty from dirt and poop. With nipples, the water stays perfectly clean. 3. I've seen just as many people complaining about the cup system failing as I did the nipples It's easy enough to confirm if the nipples are failing because the wall for my run is on a cinder block foundation (yeah, I'm crazy) and every morning I look out and see a little wetness on the cinder block right below a nipple or two (they refuse to use all of the nipples and would rather fight over 2 of them!). I see that wetness, I know that water has been coming out of it. I also periodically check that they're all working by pushing it myself. About the only thing I have to do with my setup is throw a couple of ounces of bleach in the water once a year to stave of any algae and legionnaires.
The watering nipples i use are the best.. they are made by Columbus Aqua .. the ones that fail and break are made in China due to unpolished sub par stainless steel, cheap o-rings and brittle plastic . The Rent -a - Coup watering cups have to be continuously cleaned so they are not maintenance free. I suggest using a toilet float valve instead since they are very reliable and easy to find and are much cheaper. Using a black bucket will solve any algea issues. Cheers 🐣🐥🐤🐔
I bought a 5 gallon bucket from Lowes ( the typical blue one everywhere). Anyway, I just realized it doesn’t say food grade but does say BPA free. Does it need to be food grade? Or will the blue bucket be fine? The blue bucket also says for concrete and asphalt and things like that. I just really don’t know if it’s okay?
If you can find one with a lid because the chickens will sit on the top and poop in it. You can try but you will have to get the holes precise as to not harm the plastic threads on the cups.
Another method in the event the float sticks, is to simply not leave that water source on at all times. Just crack it for a few minutes ever few days or as needed, depending on how much water your livestock may use.
Hi I've one question how you clean the red cup? I made a similar watering system (sometimes ago ) for my canaries aviary but with clear hoses and tee's to connect the red cups then a hose to the bucket. I'd to stop using it because the cups I've used keep getting dirty and I have a hard time cleaning them.
I need this, but have to figure out a good way to winterize it. I live in a place the gets really cold in the winter. The tiny holes in the nipples or cup valves always freeze.
@@CountryLivingExperience thanks! Just started a new flock after a little hiatus. I remember trying to keep them with fresh water through our winters here in Utah could be challenging at times.
Nice, But what about a system that you dont have to do nothing at all. Just attach to a water hose and electrical outlet. The system will run by itself!!! Its under (automatic self maintained water system for chickens) let me know what you think, thanks.
Thanks for replying. Also I started with your video on the electric fence that you recommended. I found it on that horse tack site but no one there seems to be able to tell me if it comes with the wire and you said there was three different links I could get. Is that something you have to purchase separate from the actual Energizer itself? If so is there a link for that?
I did a follow up for that video talking about how terrible the energizer was. I don't recommend it. That said, I had to buy the wire separately. Here is a link for one that I recommend now.....amzn.to/446anYH
Thanks for the info. It would be very handy if the measurement are also in centimeters, because some of us need to stop your video and start looking to translate all of your measurement from another site. Thanks
One more question. I am making another one of these to have two sources of water. Should I make a vent hole? On my other one I have a pvc pipe going in the run going into the bucket from the top and all I do is attach my hose from the outside of the run and open the valve. Actually I keep the valve open for venting and use a screen rubber banded to keep any mosquitos out. Anyway, the new bucket I'm making will have to be filled from within so I am worried that with the lid and no vent, it might prevent water from filling the cups? I'm not sure though. Probably a stupid question, I can probably just make it and see lol. Any tips would help though. By the way, the first watering bucket I made and am using is a big hit, and that idea came from you, thanks again. Do you ever have an issue with the cups getting dirty? Mine are continuously dirty and i'm always rotating the cup and wiping the dirt out.
No need for a vent hole. The bucket is not air tight by any means. No worries. I do have a little issue with the chickens throwing dirt in the cups. I just monitor it and wipe out the dirt every few weeks. My cups are off the ground about 9 inches.
I was thinking about buying these cups but some of the reviews said they break easily because the chickens stand on them. Since it has been 2 years since you made this video do you still highly recommend them?
I do still recommend them. I have never had a full grown bird stand on one, only young chicks. None, have ever broke. One did have the spring wear out but that was after 2 years.
Help on this please, the chickens love to get on top of the bucket and the poop lands on the cups, so is always dirty. How do you solve that problem???
Sorry I did not show it in the video but we made a cardboard cone to go on top of the bucket. We attached the cone with some wire to the bucket top. They cannot sit on a cone shape as it comes to a point at the top. Hope that helps!
I have a small space for my birds so I dont want to put a bucket of water in the coop, do you think using your system of bucket overflow and connect the bucket to a pvc pipe that has the cups attached it it will work? Id attach the pipe to the side of the coop and I would keep the link level with the bucket.
You could just attach the pipe to the bucket. I don't think using the overflow would work. Or you could just buy a smaller bucket. They sell 2 gallon buckets at Lowes.
I would just get a bulkhead fitting for the pipe and insert it into the side of the bucket at about the 2 inch above the bottom and then attach the watering cups to the pipe. The only problem I had in the past was the chicks get up on the pipe unless you have a sloping board above the pipe for its whole length.This would prevent them pooping in the cups and or wrecking them with their feet.
No, it will not work for feed. We did make an automatic feeder however. Here is the link to our other video on how to make it....th-cam.com/video/Edp3qS-KeYw/w-d-xo.html
I like it but the only issue I have is the over flow. If that float sticks open that 1/4 inch tube isn't gonna be able to keep up with the flow of a garden hose. The over flow should in engineering terms, larger than the feed line. That way there's no possible way of the water overcoming the over flow.
Not just failing...my chickens are just dumb. And, when it's over 95-100 degrees, I need to have a sprinkler dripping to pool water for them to drink, & stand feet in. Lost 4 last year in one day when 104, never had a problem before. :/
So sorry to hear that. Its 100+ here, I have a big flowerpot bottom for them to stand in, and overhead misters at my patio. They free range around the yard to avoid the heat. So sorry about your chickens!
I have this exact water and am not happy with it. My chickens keep breaking the cups off the bucket. Then when they're not breaking the cups off, it's leaking all through my coop. We have to replace the little yellow pieces often or the cups. It's made too cheap. I'm looking for new ideas if anyone has any...
Those cups with the little yellow pieces are different than these type of cups. Of course that does not solve the issue of your chickens breaking them off. Mine have never broken one.
സങ്കീർത്തനങ്ങൾ 91:4 തന്റെ തൂവലുകൾകൊണ്ടു അവൻ നിന്നെ മറെക്കും; അവന്റെ ചിറകിൻ കീഴിൽ നീ ശരണം പ്രാപിക്കും; അവന്റെ വിശ്വസ്തത നിനക്കു പരിചയും പലകയും ആകുന്നു. Psalm 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
I tried this solution and it's useless. The hens and ducks lifted the cups so that the water was constantly flowing and spilling into the coop. Horrible mess.
I have ducks and chickens too, and have been trying to come up with a way to have water in the coop with them, without the ducks making a complete mess in the coop and soaking all the bedding… ugh.
If you live in a cold winter area you can add a water miser on the end of a hose near the bucket on a Y to keep your hose from freezing over and not having to bury pipe. Works amazingly.
That is a great tip! I really appreciate it. I don't have chickens yet because I'm in the research stage and relatively new to living on my homestead. This I will try :)
I love where you are going with this video! I live in Ohio, and am going to adapt this idea a little. THANK YOU!!!!!
You're welcome
Great idea. It will save me and my wife time. I used the links to order the cups and the float valve. We also ordered the bucket with the screw on top so it can be easy to open and clean if needed. Thank you.
Awesome!
The wonderful Gamma lids, they're a game changer.
Raise the water cups high enough from the bottom so you can set the bucket on the ground without damaging them. Also a square bucket like kitty litter comes in makes it easier to seal your connections. Lessons learned from years of experience. Never tried the float vale and the overflow is a great idea..
Flat bucket is big brain, nice call.
This is brilliant! I’ve been looking for something that could replace my Chicken Fountain that just failed after several years. I’ve found many DIYs that’s are “ok”, but this one is just head and shoulders above! Thank you!
Thank you. Glad we could help.
Ordered the cups and the float valve was out of stock, so just bought another brand. Great video! I live in Northern California where it's triple digits in the late spring through early Fall. My 4 hens drink a lot of water. The thought of them almost dying due to water is criminal. As soon as I get these, I'm putting it together. I just moved to this homestead in Nov 2020. I've had to make due for the chickens. They're in a luxurious shed the prior owner had just built with a concrete slab. I just needed to outfit it for the girls. Last week I built the run. Next, I will build the roof to it. They are locked in at night when predators are around, but the run has impenetrable bear and lion-proof steel fencing on 6x6 frames with 2x2 frames inside. I take no chances. I subscribed! Great content.
Thank you! I appreciate it. Sounds like you have a bulletproof coop.
@@CountryLivingExperience pretty much! I'm retired L.E.🤣🤣🤣
Lol. Nice!
Do you have an update on how well it's holding up for you?
Thank you so much man. I'm building it this weekend I had a hose already there.
You're welcome
I’ve got some 3/4” pipe mounted cups and originally planned to build a small water tower that feeds them. Had a wood box with a plastic bucket hidden inside. I’m in Arizona, so it’s pretty hot… I insulated between the bucket & the box… only thing is, the plastic bucket split in the heat before I was able to set it up.
Ultimately I think I might try to find a small RV water tank & stash it in my air conditioned coop, and supply water from there?
Otherwise, I’ve got another bucket similar to yours without the auto-fill. Cool feature!
Great videos by the way - I like the solar ones too! I’m gonna have to take advantage of some of this sun.
Thank you Steve
I enjoyed learning how to add an auto fill valve and overflow to the "cup" style 5 gallon bucket waterer! I made a 3 quart "cup" waterer for my brooder but never realized how easily it would be to make a bucket auto fill with an overflow! Thank you for another great idea and how to video!
You’re welcome. Glad we could help.
I know Im asking randomly but does anybody know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly lost my password. I appreciate any help you can offer me.
@Nikolai Archie Instablaster =)
@Cruz Payton Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Cruz Payton It worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my ass :D
Very nice vid. I just got the watering cups in today. I live in N.C. and it does get cold here in the winter. I got a heater from Tractor Supply to sit the 5 gallon bucket on. I am not going to do the float valve. I will take the lid of the bucket and use some PVC fittings to fill the bucket up. Very nice vid. Thanks.
Thank you
Thanks for the video, we made this as instructed. One problem, the water in the cups gets dirty quickly (like hours) - I think it's because our birds free-range and get muddy beaks!
You’re welcome. That is one disadvantage of the cups. They do also sell the nipples if you want to change them.
Thank you for the great video, BTW.
❤❤❤Husband will do this ASAP😉
Nice
Thank you for this tutorial.
You’re welcome
Just got my stuff in. Building it today! Wish me luck.
Awesome. Good luck
That is a great build. Need to try this out after we finish our coop.
Thank you
This video was amazingly helpful, thank you!
You're welcome
Great system.. if only I could use it in the winter in Northern Michigan...
Thanks. I grew up in MI.
This is exactly the vision ive had so thanks for showing me how to make it come to fruition. Now that 4 years have passed, do you have any suggested updates?
Glad we could help.
It still works perfect today. I only had to replace the float valve probably because of it's low quality.
I have also seen someone drill holes in bucket for the chicken to put their head in to get water but holes were higher at top😊❤
@@fludrbywest3886 I've seen those as well, but my thoughts were that wouldn't they attract mosquitos to lay their eggs in if the holes are open that wide? The cups seem to make an airtight connection to the bucket and with a lid, no pests can get in
I have those cups, I find they start to get dark spots in the cups so need to scrub periodically. I thought of the float valve but didn't get to it. Also, hang the bucket high enough the chickens will drink at shoulder height. AND check often because 4-5gallons will heat up to ambient temps, currently 100° during the summer. Way too HOT.
Might try freezing gallon jugs to drop in there on hot days. Yes extra work but....
I liked your waterer and your feeder, but I think it would much more effective if we saw them being used by the chickens for a couple of minutes.
It is hard to catch them on camera. They may have been doing it in the background of some of my other videos.
I have a 5 gallon waterer just like that but has different cups..I like the ones in this video and might replace the ones I have currently but I can tell you I thought how am I going to teach the chickens to use this as they were a few years old and never ever had one before......I just tapped the bottom of the yellow thing in the cups and water filled the cup and the chickens figured it out after that..... and they empty it often so it does work and the chickens use it!
I don't know this TH-cam nor endorse any products .... just letting you know my personal exp. using one. The yellow thing that keys the water fill the cups on mine he makes mention of at the end.... mine have not failed but all things eventually fail in time so 🤷♀️..I just like the cup size he uses more then the ones I have is why I might switch.
Thanks. Very helpful 👌
You're welcome
I followed manufactures Direction and put the watering cups one inch from the bottom. And it works as long as you put it on the edge of some blocks. But if I were to do it again I would put it hi enough so the bottom of the cup never is lower than the bottom of the bucket maybe like 2 inhes from bottom of a bucket. What do you think.
I absolutely agree. I have to hang mine over the edge too.
Exactly. Or hang the bucket
I feel really silly now. Overflow! Doh. I put my float valve( adjustable) in the lid to come around the issue. Over complicate things? Me?
Any thoughts as to if this would work with gravity fed? I use those plastic square water tanks that we fill every few weeks. I have a hose in the bottom of it and fill my buckets that way. Wondering if the float valve would work with this system.
It would work being gravity fed. No problem
@@CountryLivingExperience great thank you for the reply!
Judging by the way the cups are tilted back toward the bucket I think maybe the 1 inch from the bottom instruction was intended to place the wedge shaped part under the bucket.
Good Stuff, Thank you
You're welcome
Great video! No need for the float valve if not connecting to a continious water source I assume?
That is correct. We wanted it to be hands free (almost) that is why we added the water source but you don't have to.
Excellent DIY
Thank you
I made it and I love it! thx
Awesome!
So how do you kmow.when to turn the water hose off or do you leave it on
Just leave it on. The float valve shuts it off automatically.
Good stuff
Thanks
Hi I’m getting ready to set mine up. I’m a little worried about algae forming. In Arizona and it gets pretty hot here. Do you add anything to the water to help? Like apple cider vinegar? Someone mentioned it but not sure if that would help.
We keep many of ours in shaded areas. Most of the time I make them out of buckets that are a dark color and I do not have any issue if it is in the sun for a short period of time.
I heard not to use acv if it's really hot. Make sure you check the bucket because a white one still gets very heated in our temps. I dump mine out 2x a day
I bought the rent a coop cups as you suggested.... did this right.... they leak terribly...
Some of mine have leaked in the past but a majority of them are perfect. I still use this waterer today.
I love it! There are a number of these on Amazon that look similar, but I'd like to make sure I'm getting the right ones - would you mind providing a link? Thanks!
Nevermind - just found it! I guess I'm new enough to TH-cam that I didn't realize there was a "show more" button. LOL
Do you have an update on how this system is doing? Great video, thank you!
Works perfectly. Had to put some thread sealant around the connection for a small leak. No other issues.
@@CountryLivingExperience Thank you!!
The bucket needs to be black to prevent algae growing in the water. Painting the outside will work very well. But, I know, sunlight will cause the black to heat the water, so, maybe foil on the outside......
It's not in direct sunlight.
Great video. What do you do about keeping the red cups clean? We have to clean our everyday.
Thank you so much. I guess we don't have messy chickens. I clean mine out about every 2 weeks or so. I use a bottle brush and then twist over the cups to let the dirt and dirty water spill out.
@@CountryLivingExperience lol mine is inside their coop sitting on a cynderblock. They get pine shavings in the cups.
I love the idea of the float, but I can't implement it since it gets cold where I live. What I did in the end:
* got a 55 gallon, food grade barrel I had lying around (that I paid $11 for)
* put a $30, 500W heater in it. It only turns on when the water is near freezing
* drilled two holes, one on top of the other and put two bulkhead fittings, then garden hose connectors, a stainless steel washing machine hose for each, a small pump on the inlet side (which I have plugged into a temperature controlled outlet), then a 1 inch, 4 foot long pvc bar that I screwed 5 nipples into
* (what I haven't done yet) Will connect a gutter to it to catch the rain water.
What does this do for me?
* 55 gallons of water? Yeah, my 8 girls aren't going through that any time soon! Even if I never connect it to a gutter, I might have to fill it up, what? 3 times a year? Maybe 4? But trust me, I'll eventually connect it to a gutter.
* No freezing? The lowest temperature we've seen so far is 18F. No problems at all. The pump kicks on at 37F and constantly circulates warm water into the PVC bar.
I prefer the nipples over the cups for a few reasons.
1. Obviously, in the winter time, even with a heater, the water in the cup will freeze.
2. I've seen videos of people that use cups. The water still gets dirty from dirt and poop. With nipples, the water stays perfectly clean.
3. I've seen just as many people complaining about the cup system failing as I did the nipples
It's easy enough to confirm if the nipples are failing because the wall for my run is on a cinder block foundation (yeah, I'm crazy) and every morning I look out and see a little wetness on the cinder block right below a nipple or two (they refuse to use all of the nipples and would rather fight over 2 of them!). I see that wetness, I know that water has been coming out of it. I also periodically check that they're all working by pushing it myself.
About the only thing I have to do with my setup is throw a couple of ounces of bleach in the water once a year to stave of any algae and legionnaires.
What would happen if you used an air stone in one to help it not get stagnant would that have an affect
Not sure. My chickens don't seem to mind it the way it is. They are healthy too.
The watering nipples i use are the best.. they are made by Columbus Aqua .. the ones that fail and break are made in China due to unpolished sub par stainless steel, cheap o-rings and brittle plastic . The Rent -a - Coup watering cups have to be continuously cleaned so they are not maintenance free. I suggest using a toilet float valve instead since they are very reliable and easy to find and are much cheaper. Using a black bucket will solve any algea issues. Cheers 🐣🐥🐤🐔
Won't that heat the water in the bucket? I have a white 5 gal and it gets so hot I dump it on my trees at least 1x day. 100s here all summer or worse
gd day from philipines
Kamusta
@@CountryLivingExperienceThanks for the great idea where could I get the cups to buy
Okay Thanks
Here are the links for the cups and float valve....
Rentacoop chicken watering cups: amzn.to/38cUJNy
Float valve: amzn.to/33wkPK3
I bought a 5 gallon bucket from Lowes ( the typical blue one everywhere). Anyway, I just realized it doesn’t say food grade but does say BPA free. Does it need to be food grade? Or will the blue bucket be fine? The blue bucket also says for concrete and asphalt and things like that. I just really don’t know if it’s okay?
I would say they are fine if you are storing your food in a sealed mylar bag inside of the bucket. I wouldn't put any raw food in those buckets.
Good info great ideas!
Thank you
mice job good info
Thank you
Can a galvanized bucket be used so it can be set on a heater disc in the winter?
If you can find one with a lid because the chickens will sit on the top and poop in it. You can try but you will have to get the holes precise as to not harm the plastic threads on the cups.
Another method in the event the float sticks, is to simply not leave that water source on at all times. Just crack it for a few minutes ever few days or as needed, depending on how much water your livestock may use.
That is an alternative but the float has not failed yet.
How chickens can this waterer accomodates?
I have 20 chickens on mine. It can probably accommodate more since it is automatically fed and you can put as many cups on the bottom as you can fit.
Hi
I've one question how you clean the red cup?
I made a similar watering system (sometimes ago ) for my canaries aviary but with clear hoses and tee's to connect the red cups then a hose to the bucket.
I'd to stop using it because the cups I've used keep getting dirty and I have a hard time cleaning them.
I just turn them upside down and use a bottle brush to clean them.
@@CountryLivingExperience mine was fixed and can't be turned.
Please give me the model or how or where to buy these model of drinking cups please, thanks in advance
Here you go......Rentacoop chicken watering cups: amzn.to/38cUJNy
Has anyone tried connected to a rain barrel instead of a hose? Does it work or is there light debris in the water?
Do you have filters on your rain barrel? That should stop most large debris that would float.
thank you!!
You're welcome!
how do you clean out the cups when they get nasty?
I just turn them sideways and use a bottle brush to clean them out.
Thanks I’ve been getting frustrated with the water they set on the ground.
You’re welcome
I need this, but have to figure out a good way to winterize it. I live in a place the gets really cold in the winter. The tiny holes in the nipples or cup valves always freeze.
I haven't found the trick yet. My cups froze as well.
Would a submersible heating element work or do they just not heat the water enough to keep the nipples from freezing?
@@CFarnwide I tried that with a fish tank heater. It did not work because the cups hang out so far from the tank. It may work for the nipples.
@@CountryLivingExperience thanks! Just started a new flock after a little hiatus. I remember trying to keep them with fresh water through our winters here in Utah could be challenging at times.
@@CFarnwide Those things scare the heck out of me. I've heard too many stories of them causing fires.
Mine will be outside, but still love the overflow idea.
Thank you
I am interested to a bucket like this but i am scared that it will.leak water as a result from the past what do you recomend
Mine has never leaked. No worries
Do any of those valves ever get stuck and cause water leaks? It seems like they could freeze and break.
They don’t get stuck at all. Freezing is a different issue.
So your telling me when it’s -20F and I can throw boiling water in the air and it turns to snow this watering system won’t freeze?
Just was gonna ask the same question.
so in the summer.. the chickens are drinking 150 degree water?
It is in the shade. Probably 90 degrees.
Nice, But what about a system that you dont have to do nothing at all. Just attach to a water hose and electrical outlet. The system will run by itself!!! Its under (automatic self maintained water system for chickens) let me know what you think, thanks.
What is the brand of the float valve ?? & the model #
Thanks Stan 👍🏻
This is the one we used….amzn.to/33wkPK3
Any one would work the same... toilet, swamp cooler, etc
We bought some cheap ones i guess. Works great on turkeys but they are pretty chill. Chickens are kind of hyper.
Im sorry i should have watched the full video because you adressed this, im sorry
When I click on your link for the float it doesn't seem to contain that extra PVC section.
Not sure which section you are referring to. Not every part comes with the float valve. I had to purchase some pieces at Home Depot.
Thanks for replying. Also I started with your video on the electric fence that you recommended. I found it on that horse tack site but no one there seems to be able to tell me if it comes with the wire and you said there was three different links I could get. Is that something you have to purchase separate from the actual Energizer itself? If so is there a link for that?
I did a follow up for that video talking about how terrible the energizer was. I don't recommend it. That said, I had to buy the wire separately. Here is a link for one that I recommend now.....amzn.to/446anYH
@@CountryLivingExperience Thanks again my friend! So which energizer do you like best that goes with the fence? Have a great rest of your day!
My favorite is the Gallagher. I have used them for years now with no issues. I have the S40 amzn.to/49JAx4X and the S20 for my smaller fence.
Thanks for the info. It would be very handy if the measurement are also in centimeters, because some of us need to stop your video and start looking to translate all of your measurement from another site. Thanks
You're welcome
My cups fill up with dirt making them think there’s water so the water doesn’t come in automatically it doesn’t raise back up to let them fill
Interesting. Mine get a bit of dirt in them but always fill.
That’s like the dirt weigh them down so it thinks it’s full of water and spring will bring it back up to fill
You have to wash it really well, then raise the bucket off the ground at least 5".
do those cups come in larger size for ducks or can your ducks drink out of those?
They have these metal ones...amzn.to/2TACFY9. They look like they are large enough for a duck.
Yea, Great, but where do I get the TEXAS bucket?
Lol. That’s a Lowe’s bucket. They print the Texas state on all of them.
@@CountryLivingExperience As an ex-pat had to order online, but I got 'em! Thanks!
Please how can i get those children watering cups..
This link is also located in the description. Rentacoop chicken watering cups: amzn.to/38cUJNy
Float valve water system for chicken 🐓
One more question. I am making another one of these to have two sources of water. Should I make a vent hole? On my other one I have a pvc pipe going in the run going into the bucket from the top and all I do is attach my hose from the outside of the run and open the valve. Actually I keep the valve open for venting and use a screen rubber banded to keep any mosquitos out. Anyway, the new bucket I'm making will have to be filled from within so I am worried that with the lid and no vent, it might prevent water from filling the cups? I'm not sure though. Probably a stupid question, I can probably just make it and see lol. Any tips would help though. By the way, the first watering bucket I made and am using is a big hit, and that idea came from you, thanks again. Do you ever have an issue with the cups getting dirty? Mine are continuously dirty and i'm always rotating the cup and wiping the dirt out.
No need for a vent hole. The bucket is not air tight by any means. No worries.
I do have a little issue with the chickens throwing dirt in the cups. I just monitor it and wipe out the dirt every few weeks. My cups are off the ground about 9 inches.
@@CountryLivingExperience Awesome, thanks for answering me
Ordered float on your link but no 90 degree fitting came with it. They must have changed it.
That’s strange.
In an actual cold area no amount of insulation will keep your pipe or hose from freezing if it's outside. Use a heated waterer.
What float switch package did you use?
Never mind
Did you find it?
@@CountryLivingExperience yes! I saw the links. Finished the project and love it.
What float switch package did you use,I didn't see it in the video?
@@matthewbrazil1697 It is in the links in the video description.
I was thinking about buying these cups but some of the reviews said they break easily because the chickens stand on them. Since it has been 2 years since you made this video do you still highly recommend them?
I do still recommend them. I have never had a full grown bird stand on one, only young chicks. None, have ever broke. One did have the spring wear out but that was after 2 years.
Cannot find the link for these cup
It is listed in the video description below the video. Here is a copy for you.....Rentacoop chicken watering cups: amzn.to/38cUJNy
@@CountryLivingExperience ty got them
Ordered
Help on this please, the chickens love to get on top of the bucket and the poop lands on the cups, so is always dirty. How do you solve that problem???
Sorry I did not show it in the video but we made a cardboard cone to go on top of the bucket. We attached the cone with some wire to the bucket top. They cannot sit on a cone shape as it comes to a point at the top. Hope that helps!
@@CountryLivingExperience exactly what I was going to propose when I read the comment..
Good...
Thanks
Can you do it without the float valve?
Yes but you will have to monitor and fill it yourself. The intention of the float is to make it hands-free.
The best part of the video was you using you great grandfather's manual drill and bit.
Thank you!
Doesn't the sitting water get shimmy and nasty?
No. They drink it fast enough.
My cups leak and I don't seem to be able to stop it
I have had a few do that but most don't.
I have a small space for my birds so I dont want to put a bucket of water in the coop, do you think using your system of bucket overflow and connect the bucket to a pvc pipe that has the cups attached it it will work? Id attach the pipe to the side of the coop and I would keep the link level with the bucket.
You could just attach the pipe to the bucket. I don't think using the overflow would work. Or you could just buy a smaller bucket. They sell 2 gallon buckets at Lowes.
@@CountryLivingExperience that might be good too
I would just get a bulkhead fitting for the pipe and insert it into the side of the bucket at about the 2 inch above the bottom and then attach the watering cups to the pipe. The only problem I had in the past was the chicks get up on the pipe unless you have a sloping board above the pipe for its whole length.This would prevent them pooping in the cups and or wrecking them with their feet.
Where are the amazon links? :(
Right below the video in the description.
is that bucket food grade?
Could we use this for feed?
No, it will not work for feed. We did make an automatic feeder however. Here is the link to our other video on how to make it....th-cam.com/video/Edp3qS-KeYw/w-d-xo.html
I like it but the only issue I have is the over flow. If that float sticks open that 1/4 inch tube isn't gonna be able to keep up with the flow of a garden hose. The over flow should in engineering terms, larger than the feed line. That way there's no possible way of the water overcoming the over flow.
Great
The poor chickens almost died🤣
Hey , my cups are leaking. UG
Not just failing...my chickens are just dumb. And, when it's over 95-100 degrees, I need to have a sprinkler dripping to pool water for them to drink, & stand feet in. Lost 4 last year in one day when 104, never had a problem before. :/
Wow, I have never heard of that. Mine have never done anything like that.
So sorry to hear that. Its 100+ here, I have a big flowerpot bottom for them to stand in, and overhead misters at my patio. They free range around the yard to avoid the heat. So sorry about your chickens!
I have this exact water and am not happy with it. My chickens keep breaking the cups off the bucket. Then when they're not breaking the cups off, it's leaking all through my coop. We have to replace the little yellow pieces often or the cups. It's made too cheap. I'm looking for new ideas if anyone has any...
Those cups with the little yellow pieces are different than these type of cups. Of course that does not solve the issue of your chickens breaking them off. Mine have never broken one.
Ok, so this video was posted 4 years ago. Is this still what you use?
Kate
Hello. Yes, we still use the same one.
Opps, spoke too soon about not 🥶. Sorry about the rude mom nature. ❤️🙏🏻 Hope you and yours are ok.
Lol. It is a rare event. We are ok, thank you.
സങ്കീർത്തനങ്ങൾ
91:4 തന്റെ തൂവലുകൾകൊണ്ടു അവൻ നിന്നെ മറെക്കും; അവന്റെ ചിറകിൻ കീഴിൽ നീ ശരണം പ്രാപിക്കും; അവന്റെ വിശ്വസ്തത നിനക്കു പരിചയും പലകയും ആകുന്നു.
Psalm
91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Are your chickens free-range?
No. We have too many predators.
I tried this solution and it's useless. The hens and ducks lifted the cups so that the water was constantly flowing and spilling into the coop. Horrible mess.
I have ducks and chickens too, and have been trying to come up with a way to have water in the coop with them, without the ducks making a complete mess in the coop and soaking all the bedding… ugh.
Your white bucket will introduce algae? No?
It doesn't sit in the sun.
Mine doest
Most cheap step bits do 7/8”
I know. I don’t have one.
If you need an overflow outlet, I guess your float valve failed.