Instructions for barrel waterers

I have two designs for making rain barrel waterers. It makes things much easier to water 50 gallons at a time. I will attach links to amazon for the specific items that I used to make it easier for you to get the project done without the hangups that I had. It is extremely important to get the proper size hole, PVC and bulkhead fitting or you will have leaks.

1. Hog waterer

2. Chicken waterer


You will need (Chicken waterer):
Any large barrel (Rain barrels are costly. I used old soap containers that I got on craigslist for $10)
Drill with 1 1/4" Hole Saw bit
file with curved side or sand paper
PVC joint cement (I used wet/dry)
Plumbers Tape
1/2" bulkhead fitting
Chicken Fountain (The fountain I used in this instruction page has been discontinued. I will provide alternate instructions to adapt to the other variety of fountain on another page.)
PVC Fittings and an elbow - I used the ones listed below because I wanted to use a flexible line so my goats could bump it without leaks. You can go to the hardware store and find a 1/2" female and use that to fit things together.

• Reducing male adapter 1/2" x 3/4
• flexible coupling 1/2"
• Reducing female adapter elbow 3/4"  x 1/2
• male/male adapter

You will need (Pig waterer):
Any large barrel (Rain barrels are costly. I used old soap containers that I got on craigslist for $10)
Drill with 1 1/4" Hole Saw bit
file with curved side or sand paper
PVC joint cement (I used wet/dry)
Plumbers Tape
1/2" bulkhead fitting
Hog Nipple 1/2"

1.  Clean the barrel thoroughly. Chickens in particular are sensitive to changes in water quality. If you bought an old soap barrel to save $50 like I did, wash it very well.
2. Use the 1 1/4" hole saw to bore a perfect hole. Do not press into the barrel with your bodyweight as it is drilling. It can torque the bit onto the drill and you will have a hard time removing it. Press just hard enough to get the job done without moving drill to the sides. This will make an even cut and closer to a perfect hole. 
3. Sand or file the raspy edges off the hole
4. Unscrew bulkhead fitting. The large part of the bulkhead goes inside the barrel and the threaded end comes out of the hole you just made as shown below. If your barrel has a removable lid, this should be easy. If you have bungs only, like I did, reduce your cursing fit by using a tent stake to guide the fitting through the hole. Once you have the threaded side in your fingers, screw the end on a few times so you don't lose it. 

5. For a better seal: I used PVC cement but you can also use exterior rated caulking. Put a thin layer of caulk or cement on the barrel side and then screw the fitting together by hand. When it is too hard to turn by and, use a wrench. That worked for me. The whole fitting will turn and break the seal if you can't keep the threaded part still.

6. Hog Waterer: place plumbers tape on threaded end of hog nipple and screw into barrel. Fill barrel to above bulkhead and check for leaks. Adjust connections if you get a leak. Listening to the pigs drink out of this thing is the perfect hobby. 

6. Chicken Waterer: insert male threaded adapter into barrel (use plumbers tape if needed)

7. insert pvc pipe (In my case, goat-proof flexible coupling) using the PVC cement to bond if the connection is smooth to smooth PVC. If the connection is threads, use tape.

8. insert pvc elbow using the PVC cement to bond if the connection is smooth to smooth PVC. If the connection is threads, use tape.

9. If the final end is female, add the male/male  adapter or smooth/male adapter to make sure the final tip that points down is a 1/2" male threaded end

10. screw on the water fountain. fill barrel to above the bulkhead fitting with water and check for leaks. make sure fountain is level or it will drip over the side making a muddy mess. barrel needs to be elevated enough so fountain isn't on the ground but not so high chickens can't reach it.