Do-it-yourself duckling drinker: how to make it from scrap materials at home

When planning to start poultry farming, in particular breeding ducks, you should study information that relates to their growth, development and subsequent productivity. Water for birds is an integral part of life. Moisture is especially important for ducks, as they not only quench their thirst with it, but also bathe during the day. You can make a drinker for ducklings with your own hands.

What are the requirements for duck drinkers

Competent care for little ducklings cannot be provided without convenient drinkers. There are a number of factors to consider before making your own cup.

You need to be prepared for the fact that the duck is a waterfowl, so she will certainly want to climb inside the structure and swim. You should make a drinker that is not easy to get into. A rectangular product is suitable, narrow, but at the same time deep, into which the duckling can stick its head and drink.

The second factor to consider if the owner is interested in he althy livestock is the ability to fully wash and clean the drinker, disinfect it. For quick and convenient water changes, a compact design is provided.

It is also advisable to think over the number of livestock in advance. If you plan to keep a small flock, then a duckling drinker made on your own, from the materials that are on the farm, is the best solution. The main thing is that she can fully provide moisture to the ducklings during the day.If the number of flocks is large, then it would be wise to place several containers in the house.

Besides this, they should be as stable, roomy and environmentally friendly as possible. The requirements for drinking installations are relevant for mulards, indoutas and other breeds of waterfowl.

Types of structures

Drinking plants for all types of adult waterfowl, as well as newborn ducklings, are conditionally divided into two types: automatic devices and manual ones. Designs in the form of automatic drinking bowls are more often installed on large poultry farms. The essence of the device is fast filling as the water is consumed by the birds. Drinkers with manual filling periodically have to add water, draining the residue and rinsing the container.

The following types are popular:

nipple;
grooved;
vacuum.

Nipple drinkers consist of a body, weight and valve.The float design is convenient to use, since water does not stagnate there, but is supplied exclusively at the request of the duck. Do-it-yourself production will require certain labor costs. Nipple drinking installations are suitable for different types of content - floor and cellular. They are practical to use, which is why owners often prefer this type.

Gutter types of drinkers, on the contrary, are easy to manufacture, but inconvenient because it is problematic to change the water in them. This design is durable, easy to clean, and ducklings can dip their heads into it. The structure is heavy, so it is important to fix it firmly in the cage to avoid injury.

Vacuum types are considered economical in terms of water consumption, since the liquid level is maintained for a long time. Due to the self-filling of the bottle, the water is fresh and clean. The owner is only required to replenish the supply of water in a bottle or canister in a timely manner.

Tools and materials

Sometimes the owners of a small flock of birds do not want to spend money and time on making a full-fledged drinking structure, so they put small buckets, basins, metal and plastic bowls, and other devices in the house. However, farmers soon come to the conclusion that ordinary containers for ducks, and even more so for ducklings, are a bad idea.

Ducks are not cleanliness. At every opportunity, they tend to climb inside and swim. At the same time, ordinary containers turn over, water flows to the floor, and the birds remain without moisture for a long time, which is harmful to he alth. There is no need to talk about hygiene in the poultry house when the floors are constantly wet. This is especially harmful for small ducks. That is why experienced farmers recommend making reliable liquid containers.

The following items may be required for an eco-friendly and practical design:

canisters, plastic bottles;
PVC pipe;
nipples;
tank or other container for liquid;
microbowls, drip eliminators;
hose;
dispenser;
section of sewer pipe.

Based on what the farmer has on hand from materials and tools, you can build a suitable container. Often, duck owners make devices from a piece of sewer pipe or from large plastic bottles.

Common tools include a drill, thread tap, pipe cutter, file or jigsaw. Wire, scissors, various types of fasteners may also come in handy.

How to make a drinking bowl with your own hands at home

You should think in advance how to make the container convenient in all respects. The main thing is that moisture is available for birds around the clock in full, and the container can be quickly cleaned.

Automatic

Autodrinker for newborn ducklings, many farmers purchase at specialized outlets or make it from improvised means if the number of livestock is insignificant. Nipple or vacuum drinking installations are popular. The nipple-type drinker is not so easy to manufacture, but it is superior in performance to the vacuum one.

These complex devices have obvious advantages. The ducklings can't climb inside, the water stays clean and doesn't splash on the floor. The supply is constant, and the owner does not need to control the presence of liquid in the cup.

Nipple

To install the nipple type, materials will be required:

drip eliminators, micro bowls;
small gauge nipples;
square-shaped pipe with grooves on the inside;
muffler for pipe;
connectors for pipes of various shapes;
sealant;
capacity and lid for it.

Sometimes farmers find a way to connect a sippy bowl to a central water supply. Then there is no need for storage capacity.

Marks are placed on the pipe at a certain distance, then holes are drilled 9 cm in diameter. With the help of a marker, a thread is made and the nipples are screwed in. Next, they begin to prepare the storage tank.

In a plastic tank or container, make a hole for the hose and carefully seal the seams with sealant. Drip eliminators are attached to the tube under the nipples. The tube is installed at a certain height in a horizontal position and securely fixed. Young ducklings should freely reach the water. The water tank is mounted slightly higher than the drinker.With a nipple installation, ducklings do not spill or splash water.

Groove

The grooved design is easy to make yourself. This advantage is not the only one of this type of container. It is convenient when changing water, cleaning, quite durable, has a low cost and is designed for a large number of ducklings. There are also disadvantages: it is uneconomical, the water in it is quickly polluted. If the structure is loose, the ducklings can knock it over.

More often, a grooved structure is constructed from a small piece of a sewer pipe, on which lines are marked, there will be holes between them. Then mark the boundaries of the holes and make a drill along a pair of holes located opposite. With a jigsaw, cut along the marked lines. Similar holes are made in other places.

A wooden beam will come in handy. Legs are cut out of it under the pipe. One should be placed in the middle of the structure, and two on the sides. When it is assembled, it is closed with a plug on one side. The installation is suitable for little ducklings from the first days of life.

Vacuum

Homemade vacuum drinking bowl is considered one of the simple but easy-to-use designs. This is a kind of reservoir, moisture from it flows into the pan. This cup is versatile and suitable for young birds. They prefer to make it from a plastic bottle.

With the help of fasteners, the bottle is installed at a low height against the wall. Pour water into the bottle and screw on the cap. A pallet is placed under it and placed so that there is a small gap between the bottom and the cap of the bottle. Next, the lid is unscrewed.

Importance of drinker hygiene

Regardless of the type of construction, sippy bowls should be thoroughly sanitized on a regular basis. Viral infections, fungi often lead to a massive loss of livestock. The level of hygiene drops sharply when dirt, droppings, food residues get into the water.

Farmers avoid this by choosing closed drinkers that the ducklings cannot fully fit into. In addition, the water should be changed daily, and the drinkers should be washed with warm water. They need to be disinfected periodically. This will prevent the emergence and spread of diseases.

Selection Tips

Waterfowl cannot thrive without clean drinking water. It is required daily in large quantities. If the bird does not get the full amount of fluid, then this will soon lead to reduced productivity, stunted growth, serious illness and death.

When choosing a design, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements for drinkers, and initially decide on the size of the flock. It is equally important to consider age. It also depends on the device type.