![]() ![]() The lower holes allow all the feed to drain out, while the higher holes increase the depth of the feed in the pan. Drill 4 more about an inch higher in between the first holes. You’ll need a 1 1/2 inch spade bit or hole saw to make the feeder.ĭrill 4 evenly spaced holes as close to the bottom of the bucket as possible. That will give about a 6 gallon capacity. If you want to increase the capacity slightly, fill the bucket to the brim and add an inch or two of water to the pan before you put the bucket in. In cooler weather it will last a couple days between refills. It will last a day or day and a half for about 10 full grown chickens unless the weather is extremely hot. If they aren’t, level the waterer with a block of wood so it doesn’t overflow. Make sure all the holes are below the lowest level of the rim of the pan. It will gurgle slowly until all the holes are submerged and air can’t be drawn inside. The water will drain quickly for a few seconds until suction builds up inside the bucket. A hose is much easier than holding a bucket under a spigot.įlip the bucket into the pan upside down. They’re tough enough to hold up to abuse, short enough to drain easily in cold weather, and can usually be found for free. I use old washing machine hoses for filling buckets. You can fill it higher, but you’ll spill water on your leg when you carry the bucket. If the holes are too high and the waterer is uneven, all the water will run out on the ground.įill the bucket with water to just below the holes. The distance from the top of the pan down to the holes determines how level the waterer will have to stay. The height from the bottom of the pan will be the water depth. The holes should be a couple inches above the bottom of the pan when the bucket is set in the pan upside down. I put 6 holes in each bucket, but you can get by with anywhere from 2 to 20. Scavenge buckets if you can to cut costs, but be sure to clean them thoroughly, especially if they previously held paints or chemicals.įor the waterer, drill a series of 1/4 inch holes just below the rim of the bucket, or higher or lower depending on the depth of the pan you’ll be using. I use buckets and hog feed pans from TSC. ![]() Start out with two buckets with tight fitting lids and some sort of pan 3-4 inches tall and slightly wider than the bucket. ![]() Since I’m making them anyway, I might as well show you how, right? The Freedom Ranger chicks are draining their 5 gallon waterer by early afternoon, and will soon be eating an entire feeder full of food each day so it was time to build more feeders and waterers. ![]()
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