Avian Aqua Miser: Automatic, poop-free chicken waterers

55 gallon tank waterer

Homemade chicken waterer using an elevated 55 gallon tank and a pipe with nipples.

I posted about Diane Watson's homemade chick waterer earlier, but I thought you'd also like to see her setup for the adult poultry.  This is a very elegant solution for the farmer who really doesn't want to have to worry about her chickens' water on a daily basis (or her ducks' water, as the case may be.)

Diane built a tower to elevate a 55 gallon drum, into which she installed a 2-way valve.  She emailed:

One side of the valve feeds water to the 2" pvc pipe with 3 nipples via a length of hose.  Gravity does all the work.  The other valve is the inlet to simply connect the garden hose for no-mess filling or flushing.


Homemade duck watererThe other image shows her ducklings, now six weeks old, drinking from one end of the waterer in the big picture.  She wrote: "The hanging chain can quickly be adjusted up as the ducklings grow bigger."

Diane is clearly a poultry lover, and also a great DIYer.  She finished her email with this note:

Additonally, we have a similar DIY setup in the barn, except there are six valves on the 55-gallon drum, providing water to 4 brooders, the ducks' night pen, and the 6th valve is used to either fill or flush the drum.  This setup also includes a handy water level indicator on the outside.

I would have submitted a picture of this also, but it is a very poopy picture!!!  The chickens and guineas roost in the rafters directly above the drum and hoses!  Plus, it's very difficult to get a clear photo of the waterers inside of the brooders in the barn, the lighting is just not good enough.  You'd be impressed, though!


Diane is right --- I'm very impressed.  Thanks for sharing this great setup!

If anyone else wants to follow in Diane's footsteps, our 10 pack DIY chicken waterer kit is a great place to start.



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