I have a 55 gal plastic barrel that I'm hooking up to use as a waterer in my chicken coop. I built a platform and will use gravity feed. I started using 1/2 inch PVC pipe, but then started rethinking my setup. I think it would be much easier using a garden hose bib and running garden hose to my waterers. That way I can unhook and drain in the winter if we get cold weather. My question is, what can I use for a hose bib?....I don't want to cut the top of the barrel, so don't see anyway to reach the bottom of the barrel and attach a nut and gasket. If I drill a size smaller and screw a hose faucet into the plastic and seal up with seal do you think this would work???? Any ideas?, I'd like to keep it simple, but make sure it doesn't leak and is strong enough to hook a garden hose to. Thanks

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), April 10, 2001

Answers

Response to 55 gal barrel for chickens

Kent, They make facuets that screw into the large bung hole of 55 gallon drums. You could make a cradle and elevate the barrel on it's side.

-- Mark in NC Fla (deadgoatman@webtv.net), April 10, 2001.

Response to 55 gal barrel for chickens

Kent! Mark is right but I have another concern. What was in the plastic barrel previously? Harmful and even fatal chemical residue can and does remain in those plastic ones. A steel barrel can be cleaned much better as the steel will not "absorb" any of those chemicals like the plastic will. Just a thought! ole hoot. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), April 10, 2001.

Thanks Mark, that might work if I can't find something for the bottom I have a half inch hole drilled in one barrel and made the platform to hold 2 verticle, so was hoping someone would come up with a fitting for me. I may try pulling it thru with a wire. I seem to remember reading in Organic Gardening or somewhere about using plastic barrels for rain water catchment and a faucet hooked to the bottom. The barrels were used for apple concentrate, so no worry about any chemical hazard. I was going to use them for floats on a dock, but they've been sitting around for about 10 years, so figured I'd get some use out of them.

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), April 10, 2001.

Kent- You can install an ordinary garden hose bib in the bottom of your barrel. Just use a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the hose bib, then screw the hose bib in. We do this for rain barrels all the time.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), April 10, 2001.