Automatic waterer- worth every penny!!!

[BearCreekFarm]

There was a thread recently about watering in the winter. For the past 2 years we have used metal bowls in our rabbit cages. Here in Minnesota the water freezes very quickly. We weren't thrilled about having to knock out the ice several times a day in order to add more water. In addition, we realized that there was no way we could both be gone all day in the winter because there is no one we could ask to come in and do chores for us. We had a very nice automatic watering system for the spring, summer, and fall, but it freezes up on the winter, and we really miss it, lol. Last year we bought a heated system from Bass Equipment but we never installed it because we were anticipating a move and did not want to have to put it up and then rip it apart to move it. We finally moved in April, but used the old system because we were going to reconfigure our cage layout and wanted to hold off on the heated system. Well, we have been so busy that we never got the system installed until last week. DH had to go out of town for a week and did not want me to have to mess around with all those bowls, so he made the time to set the new system up.

It is awesome! The first day he had it up and running the temps were -15 deg F, and the waterer worked perfectly! The only little hitch is that the system is designed to be used with a float valve, but we can't use the float in winter because we have no way to keep the water from freezing between the hydrant and the reservoir. DH partially overcame that by replacing the 5 gallon bucket with a 15 gallon container. We fill that from a bucket once or twice a day, but even that is so easy compared to the little individual watering bowls that it doesn't seem like work. Takes about 5 minutes and we're done. It is such a relief to not have to worry that the rabbits will be without water if it freezes, or if they tip over the bowls, etc. And, if we had an emergency and had to leave, it is no more difficult now than watering the other critters in the barn, so we could get someone to cover us in a pich.

[Reauxman]

I never use a float in any rabbitry besides the one right outsde the back door. I don't even like to use one there. I just get a 15 gallon drum, drill a 1/2" hole, buy the 1/2" PVC screw thing and screw into the barrel. A little caulk and all if well. 15 gallon will water 100 rabbits for a good 24 hours. I fill it daily. Has worked for me for a long time, but we don't get freezng temps.

[Jennifer L.]

Bear, would you mind saying how many rabbits you are watering with the system? I am going to be installing mine next week, but will be doing the heating cable inside the pipe instead of circulating heated water.

Jennifer

[BearCreekFarm]

We cut back to 15 for the winter.

We looked at the tape in the pipe and I can't remember why we chose to go with the circulating/heated system instead. Maybe it would not work in our low temps? Can't remember right now. I do know that the system we got is not guaranteed at really low temps (maybe below 20 degrees?) but it seemed like the best choice at the time- we were so happy when it worked at -15. Of course, it wasn't that cold inside the barn, but it was probably -5 or -10.

[annie716]

I'm so glad to hear the recirculating system is working so well, I'm planning on installing mine right after Xmas. Did you use pipe saddles or screw the valves right into the pvc? Also which valves did you use. I can hardly wait to get this going the frozen water thing is a pain.

[Jennifer L.]

Thanks, Bear. Yes, I looked at the circulation one but thought it would go too far around the barn in my case and that's why I went with the heat cables. They are supposed to work down to 0ºF as I understand it, and I'm hoping they might go a little more below that. The last few years we haven't gotten much less than -5 or -10ºF but -20ºF is more normal for this area. It's going to be an interesting winter finding out how well this works!

Jennifer

[Kentr]

Anyone else using auto watering for rabbits? I noticed this thread died 7 years ago... how is your system holding up Bear?

[forphase1]

I have an autowatering system to my rabbits, but unlike some of the others here it doesn't work when it freezes. Fortunately it doesn't freeze for long here in WV.

[mygoat]

We're putting one in this year, too. Nipples direct off of a PVC line, no little tubes to deliver the water or to freeze up in winter.Offset so they can't chew the pipe.

Plan on having a 50 gallon drum, with a pump to shove water through the system constantly. In winter, we plan on keeping a deicer in the barrel to keep it from freezing solid.

Last year what we'd do is use 2 little 32oz plastic containers per cage. One with holes poked around the bottom and holes under the rim to attach to the cage wall as a 'holder', and the other solid which nested inside the 'holder'.

Except for does with litters, we would fill dishes about halfway with HOT water 2x per day. Does without litters never drank all *that* much, and the hot water melted the ice in the dishes that were there already. Does with litters would generally drink it all, and when we closed up the rabbitry for the winter, the dishes stayed liquid fairly well. Just wish it was better ventilated that way...

[arnie]

I am the biggest fan ever of my automatic watering system, I use the pvc fittings that you glue the pipe right into right into there is no drilling involved easy as playing with legos ; with a livestock tank heater and a pond pump (got them second hand on ebay) pluged into a thermo cube i'm freeze proof . the rabbits have plenty of fresh water .if I would have had the money at the time I was installing it I too would have went with the plug and go premade system but . as they say poor men have poor waysStill it saves all the work and is cheeper than a bunch of water bottles . where these guys are talking about not talking about auto watering I don't know we talk about it often .

[arnie]

Originally Posted by Jennifer L.

Thanks, Bear. Yes, I looked at the circulation one but thought it would go too far around the barn in my case and that's why I went with the heat cables. They are supposed to work down to 0ºF as I understand it, and I'm hoping they might go a little more below that. The last few years we haven't gotten much less than -5 or -10ºF but -20ºF is more normal for this area. It's going to be an interesting winter finding out how well this works!

Jennifer

and( except for the extra cost) then there is no reason why you can't use both a recirculating system along with a heat cable in the pipe adding extra frost insurance In the great frozen northland

[TroutRiver]

That's great, auto waterers will be my next investment (followed by more legitimate metal cages). For the amount of time and water that I waste filling crocks twice a day, it would make sense to have a better system

[arnie]

and like me you'll say "what the heck was I doing without auto watering " even 2 week old kits sit up on there haunches and drink; the water stayes cooler and cleaner and when its real hot a big chunk of ice added to the supply bucket

[grumpy]

I've got a "low-pressure" system that services two rooms. Each has 40 holes. Submersible pumps (350-GPH) are attached to the exit nipple in both water tanks. The white tank holds 30 gallons. The blue one holds about 45 gallons. Water consumption varies from day to day depending on the temp, the number of animals, the age of the kits, etc. etc.

The blue water tank has a sight-glass installed to keep track of the water level in the barrel. I used different pieces from an ice-making kit out of an old freezer. It's better than standing on a milk-crate and lifting the lid periodically to check on the water level when I was filling it up.

Since this pic was taken, I've insulated the water cabinet with rigid foam insulation. You can see the small heater in the bottom left of the pic. With the doors on...(and the cat removed) I can easily maintain an interior cabinet temp over 100 degrees.

The pumps run continuously 365 days a year. I turn the heater off once the weather's warmed up enough in the spring.

This system has functioned successfully to a minus 18 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The biggest problem of successful rabbit keeping is the constant supply of fresh clean water.

300 head will go through about a 30 gallon average per 24 hour period. The yellow hose is my supply line from the water spigot in the main alley of the barn. It's looped up over the rafters and quickly drains when it's stretched tight on cold winter days. No "walking" the water out of my supply hose.

grumpy.

[Kentr]

Here are pics of my NEW HEATED AUTO WATER system for our rabbits and chickens!!!
(you will have to scroll past a few earlier pics of the barn being built)

http://s774.photobucket.com/user/kentr41/library/

[sarmour]

Wow, you guys in the cold country made me feel so bad, I turned off my airconditioner...

...in Natal, Brazil...78F...heh heh heh