How to Hang a Plastic Poultry Waterer
The reward of raising chickens comes not just from the continuous supply of eggs for you and your family, but also from raising happy, healthy animals. This includes maintaining a comfortable environment with adequate space, food and water. Save floor space and prevent detritus from entering the water supply with a hanging poultry waterer. Many chicken farmers hang poultry waterers by rope, but for added stability, use a metal rod-hanging device instead.
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Long S-hook or 1/4-inch steel rod
- Metal saw (optional)
- Rod bender (optional)
- Drill
- Eye bolt
Instructions
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Choose a location for the waterer. Find a spot directly under one of the coop's sturdy rafters or joists that the chickens will be able to access with ease.
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2
Measure the distance from the hanging handle on the waterer to the overhead rafter or joist. Subtract 6 to 8 inches. This length should provide easy access to the water for grown hens and roosters.
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3
Purchase a steel S-hook of a length equal to the hanging height. Long S-hooks consist of rods with hooks at both ends. If a suitable hook is not available, cut a length of 1/4-inch steel rod 6 inches longer than the hanging height measurement using a chop saw with a metal cutting blade, a cold saw or a metal cutting band saw. Insert the ends of the cut rod 3 inches into a rod bender jig and bend them into hooks. Rod benders screw to work surfaces like vices and have either eye holes or pins for inserting and bending steel rods.
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4
Drill a pilot hole into the joist or rafter for an eye bolt. Use an eye bolt with at least a 5/16-inch diameter eye. Use a drill bit for the pilot hole with a slightly smaller diameter than the thread diameter of the bolt. Screw the eye bolt into the pilot hole by hand.
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5
Hang the waterer by hooking one end of the S-hook through the eye of the eye bolt and the other end through the waterer's hanging handle. Unlike waterers hung by rope, hooks allow for their easy removal and rehanging, for example, when you clean and refill the waterer.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear safety glasses when cutting metal.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
