Goat drinker: types and materials, DIY instructions

Goats need access to water at any time of the day. If the water is dirty, the animals may refuse to drink or become sick. From the lack of fluid, milk yield decreases, pets lose their appetite, goats and female cats are especially sensitive to it. Therefore, the equipment in the goat's rue drinkers for goats is a prerequisite for the proper maintenance of the livestock and its he alth.

Basic Requirements

Drinkers should not be placed next to feeders. The remains of feed, hay or vegetables pollute the water, it can become a source of infection. The following factors should be considered when choosing a capacity:

it should be comfortable for animals to approach her;
the drinker needs to be fixed so that it is difficult to turn it over;
tank should be easy to clean;
Strong water containers are selected.

Equip it depending on the number of animals and their age. For kids, containers are fixed lower than for adult animals so that they can easily reach the water. It is changed daily.

Types of drinkers

Water tanks in the goat house can be floor or mounted, conventional or automatic. For automatic drinkers of industrial production, water supply to the barn is necessary. Pet product manufacturers offer inexpensive plastic options. The advantages of such drinkers are the budget cost, they are easy to wash.

The disadvantage is that they break quickly due to insufficient strength of the products.

Metal drinkers are durable and strong, but rust with use. Rust can cause poisoning in animals. They should be coated with paint for metal before use. Cast iron containers are durable, difficult to turn over, they are easy to clean and do not corrode.

If the owner has only one animal, a bucket or basin is often used for water. They need to be fixed, because goats are mobile, restless creatures and often turn containers over. It is better not to put such options on the floor of the goat's house, the animals splash water, the room will be damp and dirty. Goats climb into the basin or trough with their feet, they can get wet, then they easily catch cold in late autumn and winter. Plastic containers crack, chips can injure the animal.

For a basin or bucket, you can weld from reinforcement or put together a stand from wood in which the container will be installed. In addition, a pallet made of iron or plastic is needed to protect the floor from moisture.The easiest way to secure a bucket is to tie the handle with a rope to a nail or a special ring driven into the wall. The rope can be replaced with a chain. It is convenient to install a basin or bucket in an old car tire. Mounted containers are attached to the door or to the wall. For adult goats - at a height of 0.5 meters, for kids - 0.2-0.25 meters.

Important: in the cold season, it is better to give animals warm water, then they get sick less.

For a large farm, you should purchase or make your own containers with automatic filling. They provide animals with clean water, many industrial models have the function of heating the liquid. It saves animals from colds in winter. Experienced farmers praise nipple drinkers, goats quickly get used to them, they can drink on their own, but water supply to the goat house is necessary.

Materials and tools

Drinking containers are usually made of metal or plastic. To make a metal drinker, you need a grinder, a welding machine. To make a plastic version, a soldering iron for plastic pipes and special scissors are useful (you can get by with a hacksaw). Drinkers must be sealed.

How to DIY

Drinkers can be made from the remains of a plastic or metal pipe of a suitable diameter. To protect against rust, metal containers are painted. The easiest option is to cut the pipe across, weld it from the sides and fix it on the wall or door.

If there are many animals, and there is space and a large water tank (tank or barrel) in the goat house, it is more convenient to make an automatic drinker. They have a complex device. For them, you may additionally need, for example, a float shut-off device and hoses.

For little kids, you can buy a drinker with nipples for milk and water. Pregnant goats are given a separate container. Goats are fed separately from goats. The goat drinks from 3 to 5 liters of fluid per day. Regardless of the material from which the drinker is made, it must be clean and comfortable for the animals and the owner. It needs to be rinsed away from the remnants of food. Quality care and home improvement for animals will ensure good milk yields, pet he alth and cleanliness in the goat house.