PVC Automatic Chicken Waterer

I have finally had enough of carrying water out to the chickens everyday and they always fill them up with dirt anyways. So after testing multiple waterers I knew I wanted it to be: Automatic; be usable for ducks, geese and chickens; easy to clean and easy to build using common pluming parts like the fluidmaster toilet float valve and pvc pipe and fittings and not be dumpable.

I designed and built a waterer that uses a toilet float valve to automatically keep a water trough filled.

Materials

2] 4" S&D cleanout fittings

1] 4" S&D cap

3] 4" S&D coupler

1] 4" S&D 6' of pipe

1] 4" S&D 6" of pipe

1] 4" S&D 4" of pipe

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6] Self tapping screws

3] 24" wooden stakes

1] Fluidmaster toilet valve

1] Fluidmaster to 1/2" pipe line

1] 1/2" pipe to garden hose

1] PVC pipe glue (I like Christys Red Hot Blue Glue)

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Optional:

Spray paint

Spray paint can sprayer

masking tape

String (for hanging up the parts to paint)

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Tools:

Angle grinder

Cut off wheel

Flap disk

1 1/8 forstner bit

Hacksaw

Tape measure

If you are going to paint it. Tape all the parts on the highlighted part of the picture.

Glue the cap and the 6" long piece of pipe together to make the bottom cup of the float chamber.

Drill a hole for the float valve in the bottom of the float chamber after determining the right position for the hole. To do this, smear paint on the inlet and position it so the valve will be away from all of the edges. The paint in the inlet will leave a mark showing you where to make the hole.

Glue the cleanout fitting coupler and the 4" of pipe together to make a cleanout for the float chamber.

Glue the cleanout to the bottom cup, then connect them to the tee to complete the float chamber.

Cut 2, 3" wide slots with about 3" left intact in the center of the main pipe for support. The slot will be about 2' 6" long. Cut the slots using the grinder. When finished, sand the edges of the slots with the flap disk.

If you are painting it, tape both ends of the pipe then paint. Make sure the is space for the float chamber to go on it without it touching the paint on the pipe so that there is a clean connection for gluing.

Glue the float chamber to the main pipe so that the slots are tilted slightly towards the front but not too far that the pipe will not hold much water.

Cut cut the clips with the grinder and smooth them out with the flap disk. Then using the grinder disk cut a slot in them. Cut small slices at the start, and only cut enough out to fit around the pipe snugly.

Install in the fluidmaster in to the float chamber and tighten the nut under the under the chamber.

Mount the clips to the stakes or a wall. Do everything to make sure it is level and stable as possible.

Use the toilet supply line and the 1/2 pipe to garden hose fitting to connect to a garden hose. Turn on the hose and when it starts to overflow adjust the valve to shut off at the right moment so it won't overflow.