Types and requirements for drinking bowls for pigs, how to do it yourself and installation

Piglets are raised by many farmers who have free barns. However, before introducing such animals, it is necessary to equip the premises and install special drinkers for pigs. Before installing such structures, you should familiarize yourself with their features and varieties.

Primary requirements

Drinking bowls that are installed in a pigsty must meet a number of requirements. Therefore, before choosing a container for placing water, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements that it must meet.

General requirements include the following:

• Free access for piglets to water. The structure must be shaped so that the animal can easily reach the water.
• Tank tightness. The liquid storage tank must be completely sealed so that nothing can leak out.
• Reliable water supply. The tank must have a special hole through which the drink will be supplied.
• Strength. For a pigsty, it is recommended to choose structures made of high-strength materials.
• The convenience of use. The drinking bowl should be such that it is convenient to use it not only for piglets, but also for people while cleaning it from dirt.

Also, there are requirements for the material for the manufacture of the water tank:

• Durability. It is recommended to use products made of durable materials. Experienced farmers prefer drinking bowls made of anti-corrosion metal. You should not use plastic structures, as they are not resistant to mechanical damage and break quickly.
• The presence of an additional filter. The installed filters help purify the water. They need to be changed regularly so that the liquid is better filtered.
• Installed pressure regulator. This element will allow more efficient use of the liquid in the tank.

Types of drinkers for pigs

There are three types of drinking structures that have specific features. You need to familiarize yourself with them in advance in order to select the most suitable tank in the future.

Vacuum

These drinkers are most often used for installation inside pigsties. These structures represent a bowl-shaped reservoir, inside of which water is poured. Also, the products have a separate container for storing liquid. It gradually flows into the bowl until it is completely filled. Then the fluid supply is completed and resumes only after the animals have drunk all the water. Experts advise using a vacuum device for feeding adults.To water little pigs, you will have to use a different type of drinker.

Vacuum products have a number of advantages that distinguish them from other drinkers:

• this is the most economical type of drinking containers;
• water is always in sight, and therefore animals quickly understand how to drink;
• such structures are easy to maintain.

Take a look also

Characteristics of a hybrid of a sheep and a pig, breed features and content

Despite the listed advantages, there are disadvantages to vacuum drinking bowls. These include the following:

• products can only be used for feeding pigs;
• the liquid inside the drinker quickly becomes dirty and therefore has to be washed often;
• vacuum tanks are too light and are often overturned by animals;
• it is impossible to install filters on them and therefore you have to filter the liquid yourself.

Nipple

Many farmers find nipple designs the most convenient and use them more often than others. Products of this type have advantages that distinguish them from other types of drinkers:

• Versatility. The product is suitable for animals of any age. Therefore, in the process of young growth, you will not have to buy new drinkers.
• Hygiene. Most nipple products are made of stainless steel and brass. These materials prevent bacteria from forming and growing in the liquid.
• Profitability. Design features allow more economical use of water.
• Simplicity of care. Nipple structures are easily cleaned of dirt and disinfected.

Such devices are made from the following components:

• Nipple. Used to supply fluid.
• Regulator. This part is responsible for regulating the flow of water.
• Filter. Nipple drinkers are equipped with mechanical filtration components that are used for water purification.
• Housing. Most often made of steel, which is resistant to rust.

Cup

Cup products differ from others by the presence of small sides on the sides. It is because of them that they got their name. These drinkers can be of various sizes. Therefore, for adults and small animals, you will have to buy different products.

In such drinking systems, water is not supplied constantly, but only when it is really needed. It enters the container through a special valve, which is lowered when the mechanism is pressed.

Drinking bowls have merits, which include the following:

• Ease of use. Piglets will have no difficulty in using these drinkers.
• The liquid remains inside the bowl and does not spill on the sides. It does not splatter because of the high sides on the sides.
• Economical use of water. Fluid can be saved by only discharging it after using the valve.

Take a look also

Systems and methods of keeping pigs at home for beginners

There are also drawbacks to cup products. Among them are:

• water gets dirty quickly;
• drinkers are inconvenient to clean, and therefore the cleaning process takes longer than half an hour;
• during cleaning, it is necessary to rinse not only the container, but also the valves with tubes.

Required tools and materials

Some people decide not to buy piglet drinkers, but to make their own. However, before proceeding with this, it is necessary to prepare the materials and tools that you may need. Most often, nipple drinkers are made. To create them, you need the following:

• Nipples. This is the main material you need to create a drinker. It is impossible to make it yourself and therefore you have to buy it.
• Plastic tube. Small tubes with a diameter of 5-6 millimeters are suitable for a drinker.
• Bucket or bowl. These containers will be used to store the liquid.
• Grinder or file. These tools are useful for cutting pipes.You may also need a drill with which you can drill holes.

How to make it yourself

The manufacture of an auto drinker for piglets is carried out in several successive stages, which you must familiarize yourself with in advance:

• Pipe preparation. First you need to cut the purchased plastic tube. It is cut to such a length that it does not interfere with the animals reaching the container. For example, for small pigs weighing 20-25 kilograms, the distance should be 15 centimeters. For older pigs from one hundred kilograms, the tube length increases to 65-75 centimeters.
• Making a hole in the container. It should be sized according to the diameter of the tube used.
• Installing the nipple. The part is installed inside the pipe. Then it is fixed in the hole made earlier.
• Sealing. All joints of parts are treated with a sealant to prevent fluid leakage.

Installation features

There are several requirements for the placement of drinkers inside the pigsty:

• Fluid supply structures must be at a suitable height. Moreover, the distance from the floor directly depends on the age of the animal. For small individuals weighing 10 kilograms, drinkers are placed at a height of 15 centimeters. For adult piglets, it is placed 10 centimeters higher.
• The product must be secured at a slight angle. This is to make it easier for pigs to use.
• Do not install drinkers too close to each other, as this will limit access to water.

Conclusion

Every farmer should install drinkers in the barn before breeding piglets. However, before that, you need to familiarize yourself with the varieties of such structures and with the peculiarities of their use.