How to make a drinker for ducklings with your own hands
Large and small ducks love to drink water. It is important for poultry keepers to provide the birds with regular and clean drinking. Do-it-yourself drinking bowl for ducklings is very simple, but it should be multifunctional. The materials for the drinker device are chosen strong and safe. There should be no inconvenience with cleaning and changing water. You can make a drinker for ducks with your own hands, taking into account the features and differences between devices for birds of different ages.
Duck drinker
Requirements for duck drinkers
Proper care of poultry cannot be done without a drinker and feeder. To make or buy the right drinker for ducks and ducklings, you need to consider the following factors:
- The number of duck flocks. Ducks drink a lot, so it is necessary that the drinker fully covers the liquid needs. A large flock needs several adaptations.
- Design. Ducks are waterfowl, they will definitely want to get into the container and swim. It is necessary to provide for an uncomfortable structure for swimming. It is necessary to make a narrow and deep drinker so that the birds can fully lower their heads there on hot days.
- Comfortable cleaning and disinfection. The narrow and deep design also needs to be compact for easy fluid change and cleaning.
It is important for ducklings to have a drink around the clock. Drinking bowls should be refilled regularly. If the number of birds is large, simple structures from improvised means are suitable. When the flock is large, a drinker is the best option for them. When breeding Indo-dogs, the requirements for devices are the same.
Drinking bowls from improvised items
Most often, farmers use simple improvised items as tools for drinking and feeding:
- small buckets covered with enamel;
- basins;
- bowls made of metal and plastic.
The main advantages of such drinking bowls are their low cost and simplicity. No need to fool yourself: put a trough, pour water, and let them drink. But there are many more disadvantages:
- Ducks will constantly try to climb into the large open structure, bringing dust and droppings into the water.
- Birds can easily overturn the drinker.
- The water will spray easily during the watering hole. If the air temperature is not high enough, birds can catch colds.
Elementary homemade feeders create a lot of problems for the owner of a duck flock. You will have to change the water more often and constantly monitor the birds. Simple drinkers are only suitable for very young ducklings. Older birds are better off installing more sophisticated devices.
Automatic drinkers for ducks
You can buy a good drinker for ducklings in a special store or make it yourself. The most common types of fixtures are:
- nipple pipe;
- vacuum drinker.
The device of a nipple drinker for ducklings with your own hands is the most difficult to assemble, but this is the most convenient device.Vacuum drinkers are not much inferior to nipple drinkers in terms of characteristics, but making them at home is much easier. Do-it-yourself vacuum feeders are often made from a large plastic bottle.
Sophisticated watering fixtures have a number of advantages. The water inside is always clean, does not splash. Easy to provide a continuous flow of drink. You can make a drinker yourself by watching a detailed video.
Nipple drinker
Duck nipple drinkers are very popular. These are the most convenient designs for breeders who have numerous flocks.
- The design of the nipple (teat) feeder is a pipe that is filled with water.
- Small outlet tubes are connected to the pipe, through which water flows out.
- Ducks can drink directly from tubes, but more often the liquid is fed into small hanging cups.
The do-it-yourself nipple drinker for ducklings provides an automatic and continuous flow of drink, it is suitable for birds of any age.
What is needed for the device of a nipple drinker
It is difficult to arrange a nipple device for a watering hole at home, but it is possible. When making a structure yourself, you will need materials:
- Nipples. The parameters of the parts depend on the age of the birds. In "junior" drinkers, a 3600 nipple is used, for older ducks - 1800, which functions from the movement from top to bottom.
- Square tube with grooves inside. The length of the pipe is selected taking into account the number of nipples and the minimum distance between them, which should be equal to 30 cm. The number of nipples depends on the number of the flock.
- Micro bowls, drip catchers.
- Muffler under the tube.
- Connector for square and round pipe.
- Inlet pipe and liquid reservoir (plastic container with lid) if the connection of the device to the central water supply is not planned.
- Sealing material.
- Drill (drill 9 mm).
- Threaded tap.
You can start designing a device only when all the details are ready. If something is missing, then the work will be delayed and the quality of the device will be in question.
Making a nipple drinker
How to make a drinker for ducklings with your own hands? A nipple structure can be made in several stages:
- Marks are made on the pipe for drilling holes, marks at a distance of 30 cm from each other.
- Drill holes 9 mm in diameter in the pipe.
- A thread is made in the holes with a tapered tap, nipples are screwed in.
- Prepare a container for water. A hole is made at the bottom of the plastic tank for the size of the drain hose. The joints between the hole and the hose are treated with a sealing material.
- Droplet catchers (for 3600 nipples) and micro bowls (for 1800 nipples) are installed on the tube under the nipples.
- All areas where there is a risk of water leakage are treated with a sealant (feeders do not require such treatment). The pipe is fixed horizontally at a height accessible to the wefts. The fluid reservoir is positioned above the nipple tube device.
The container must be installed in a warm room so that the liquid in the tank does not freeze. If these conditions are not present, then an aquarium heater can be installed in the tank.
Vacuum bottle drinker
A vacuum drinker is a simpler, but no less convenient option for watering ducks. This is an insulated reservoir from which water flows into a sump. The drinker is universal, it will be comfortable to use for ducklings and large ducks. At home, it is easy to arrange such a drinking bowl from a plastic container.
What is required for work
How to make a duck drinker? To design a vacuum-type drinker, you will need the following devices and materials:
- Plastic bottle. It is preferable to use a 3-5 liter bottle.
- Medium depth pallet. Any plastic or enamel bowl will work instead of a pallet.
- Wire or fasteners.
When all the details are ready, you can start designing.It is important to pay attention to the details, since the smooth operation of the future water supply device depends on their quality and functionality.
Drinking bowl manufacturing procedure
Making a drinker from a plastic bottle with your own hands is as easy as shelling pears. This will help the instruction and video:
- The side surface of the bottle is connected to the wall at a low height using frame fasteners.
- Pour liquid into the bottle and tighten the cork.
- A pallet is installed under the neck. The bowl is placed so that there is a gap between the bottom and the lid of the bottle.
- Unscrew the lid.
A hole is made at the bottom of the bottle to simplify the process of replacing the liquid for the ducks. Drink for the ducks will come from the bottle as the tray is emptied. The liquid will always be clean and fresh.
This adaptation is one of the important parts for the healthy growth of young ducklings and the life of adult ducks.
Feeders also require attention, but the device for water should be as functional as possible. The ability of ducks to adapt to the world around them is the responsibility of the owner. Birds are very thirsty, so it is important to provide ducks with a regular water supply. It is important that the drink is clean. Automatic structures of the required volume can be bought in a store or made by hand using simple instructions, photos and videos.