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The Modern HomesteadThe Modern Homestead
  • Home
  • Overview
    • The Integrated Homestead
    • Life on the Homestead
  • Grow It!
    • Soil Care
    • Composting
    • The Homestead Garden – And More
    • Fungi
    • Greenhouse
    • Homestead Tools
  • Poultry
    • Poultry Overview
    • Feeding The Flock
    • Housing the Flock
    • Ranging the Flock
    • Breeding the Flock
    • Dealing With Predators
    • Butchering Poultry
    • Producing for Small Markets
    • Poultry Miscellaneous
    • Livestock
  • Resources
    • Downloads
    • Harvey’s Book
    • Harvey’s Presentations
    • The Homesteader’s Resources
    • In the Kitchen
  • Back Porch
  • Contact Us

A Drown-Proof Waterer

Home » Poultry » Ranging the Flock » A Drown-Proof Waterer

A Drown-Proof Waterer

Components of the drown-proof waterer, including seven gallon tub and float-operated shut off valve

Drown-Proof Waterer: Components

Drown-proof waterer with attached hose and cinderblocks for access

Drown-Proof Waterer: Setup

Waterfowl must have water deep enough to submerge their heads, in order to rinse eyes and nostrils. If waterfowl are kept on the same pasture with growing chickens, however, the chicks can fall into any sort of open waterer and drown. Here is a solution I came up with to drown-proof a waterer deep enough for ducks and geese to submerge their heads.

I cut off the bottom one-third or so of a 5-gallon food-grade plastic bucket. (I drilled holes in the bottom so it wouldn’t float when placed in the tub.) I set it in a 6-gallon rubber watering tub, to which I attached a float valve on a supply hose. Watering is automated; the waterfowl are able to dunk their heads; and chicks who fall in are able to scramble up onto the rim or the upturned bucket bottom, rather than floundering around helplessly in an open waterer.

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