{"id":5241,"date":"2012-07-04T15:39:12","date_gmt":"2012-07-04T22:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davenaves.com\/blog\/?p=5241"},"modified":"2025-07-22T21:48:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T04:48:01","slug":"automatic-chicken-watering-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davenaves.com\/blog\/projects\/automatic-chicken-watering-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Automatic Chicken Watering System"},"content":{"rendered":"

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do to keep the babies in fresh water with an automatic chicken watering system. So after extensive research and testing, I found that the “watering cups”<\/a> and watering nipples<\/a> were the best bet for the exterior of the coop. (Important: both must be connected to a Low Pressure Poultry Watering Valve<\/a>) I used the Little Giant Automatic Bird Fount Waterer<\/a> in the corner of the coop’s interior, raised up a neck level.<\/p>\n

\"Chicken<\/a>

Chicken Coop Automatic Watering System – Poultry Cups<\/p><\/div>
\n(I first installed them in the interior, then realized I liked them better on the exterior)<\/p>\n

My requirements<\/h3>\n

I wanted to have an automated watering system so that:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • the water would stay clean and fresh (chickens love to climb ((and poop)) on everything)<\/li>\n
  • I wouldn’t have to constantly change it out<\/li>\n
  • we could leave on vacations once in a while without worrying<\/li>\n
  • I wouldn’t have to worry about the water freezing in winter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Construction Steps:<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • map out layout\/fittings<\/li>\n
    • *carefully* drill (with hole saw) 5\/16″ holes in pvc<\/li>\n
    • *carefully* cut threads into pvc (12″ apart to avoid chickens crowding) with properly sized tap.<\/li>\n
    • thread teflon tape onto cups’ male threads<\/li>\n
    • *carefully* thread cups into pvc (then remove to allow for for flushing pipe after fitting)<\/li>\n
    • cut pipe to length and glue together (wait 24 hrs before turning on water pressure)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t