Introducing the FarmFountain™! I began working on this project for my own herd in 2022, and now, after four years of tweaking my design and working out the kinks, I feel confident I have a product worth its place in the market. I never set out with the intention to build and sell automatic waterer kits for sheep and goats; it was a personal project because I couldn't find an affordable heavy-duty option on the market, but folks kept requesting I make them one whenever they saw me using them for my herd!
I had several issues with the auto waterers already on the market:
I constructed my kit out of heavy-duty metal components built to last.
The water supply is not fixed to the bucket, making it effortless to unhook and empty. I also made it with a built-in valve right above the bucket so you can shut the water off right there without trekking back and forth to your water hydrant to shut the supply off, so you can unhook the bucket and clean it out on a regular basis with ease (my goats LOVE clean water).
And it's pretty affordable. The next closest auto waterer to my design on the market is over $800!
All in all, this kit is an affordable, easy way to save many hours on your chores while keeping fresh, cold, clean water always available for your herd. I did a survey recently in a Facebook dairy goat group asking how much time folks spend filling water buckets. 33% of the respondents said 10-20 minutes per day. That's 30-60 hours spent filling up a bucket of water over a six-month period!! Who couldn't use an extra 30+ hours of free time during their summer???
The other thing I really like about using auto waterers is that the water level is always kept near the rim of the bucket, allowing it to be raised higher off the ground than you could with regular buckets, which have to be lower so the animals can reach them as the water level drops. The higher position keeps the water cleaner by putting it just out of range of those sheep/goat berries.
I assemble and test each unit for leaks before sending it out.
I had several issues with the auto waterers already on the market:
- They had poor-quality plastic parts.
- You couldn't disconnect the bucket easily to clean it and empty it away from the watering area, which makes a mess around the drinking area to dump on the spot.
- They were $$$~EXPENSIVE~$$$!!!!!
I constructed my kit out of heavy-duty metal components built to last.
The water supply is not fixed to the bucket, making it effortless to unhook and empty. I also made it with a built-in valve right above the bucket so you can shut the water off right there without trekking back and forth to your water hydrant to shut the supply off, so you can unhook the bucket and clean it out on a regular basis with ease (my goats LOVE clean water).
And it's pretty affordable. The next closest auto waterer to my design on the market is over $800!
All in all, this kit is an affordable, easy way to save many hours on your chores while keeping fresh, cold, clean water always available for your herd. I did a survey recently in a Facebook dairy goat group asking how much time folks spend filling water buckets. 33% of the respondents said 10-20 minutes per day. That's 30-60 hours spent filling up a bucket of water over a six-month period!! Who couldn't use an extra 30+ hours of free time during their summer???
The other thing I really like about using auto waterers is that the water level is always kept near the rim of the bucket, allowing it to be raised higher off the ground than you could with regular buckets, which have to be lower so the animals can reach them as the water level drops. The higher position keeps the water cleaner by putting it just out of range of those sheep/goat berries.
I assemble and test each unit for leaks before sending it out.
What's Included:
All the hardware you need to make your kit, including the mounting template. Exactly as shown in the second picture.
What you will need to provide: the board, barn wall, or other surface to screw the hardware to. You will also need to provide the bucket. I built this kit to be used with an 8qt flat back bucket by Fortiflex, or preferably the one made by Little Giant (either one is easy to find at farm stores). And finally, a garden hose to supply your FarmFountain™ unless you purchased the optional hose with your kit. You'll also need a 3/32" drill bit and a 1 3/8" spade bit or hole saw with a drill to install your kit. No other plumbing tools are needed.
What you will need to provide: the board, barn wall, or other surface to screw the hardware to. You will also need to provide the bucket. I built this kit to be used with an 8qt flat back bucket by Fortiflex, or preferably the one made by Little Giant (either one is easy to find at farm stores). And finally, a garden hose to supply your FarmFountain™ unless you purchased the optional hose with your kit. You'll also need a 3/32" drill bit and a 1 3/8" spade bit or hole saw with a drill to install your kit. No other plumbing tools are needed.
Optional Add-ons:
Backflow Preventer - This brass fitting attaches to your water line between your hydrant and garden hose and requires no tools to install. In some localities, it's a requirement to have a backflow preventer/vacuum breaker installed on any water outlets that come in contact with livestock. This simple device stops any potentially contaminated water (from the livestock getting a drink) from siphoning back down your water hydrant into your potable water supply. You are responsible for checking if this is a requirement for your current location and water pipe arrangement.
Custom Length Hose - *Temporarily unavailable! If you already have an extra garden hose lying around, great! If not, this is an affordable alternative that will last much longer than any brand-new garden hose on the market today. I use 1/2" polyethylene tubing to make these hoses, which is highly UV resistant. We have some of this tubing installed in our landscaping where it sees continual sunlight and is never brought indoors - it's going on 17 years now with zero sign of degradation. I recommend digging a trench a few inches deep to run your hose to the FarmFountain™. This will keep the water that feeds the fountain cooler and will prevent you from tripping over it on the surface. Measure the distance between your hydrant/spigot and the FarmFountain, plus the distance from the ground to the spigot and the ground to the FarmFountain to calculate your exact length. If you aren't 100% sure, just add a few extra feet, and you can cut it to size with heavy-duty scissors or a sharp knife (be careful) once you have it laid out where you want it. The ends come installed, but they can be removed and reattached tool-free by hand, loosening the collar and pulling free from the hose. It's really very simple once you have it in your hands, but know that you can reach out to me anytime you are unsure or need help installing! This hose does not need to be brought in or drained during the winter, but you do need to unscrew the ends from your hydrant and FarmFountain™.
Custom Length Hose - *Temporarily unavailable! If you already have an extra garden hose lying around, great! If not, this is an affordable alternative that will last much longer than any brand-new garden hose on the market today. I use 1/2" polyethylene tubing to make these hoses, which is highly UV resistant. We have some of this tubing installed in our landscaping where it sees continual sunlight and is never brought indoors - it's going on 17 years now with zero sign of degradation. I recommend digging a trench a few inches deep to run your hose to the FarmFountain™. This will keep the water that feeds the fountain cooler and will prevent you from tripping over it on the surface. Measure the distance between your hydrant/spigot and the FarmFountain, plus the distance from the ground to the spigot and the ground to the FarmFountain to calculate your exact length. If you aren't 100% sure, just add a few extra feet, and you can cut it to size with heavy-duty scissors or a sharp knife (be careful) once you have it laid out where you want it. The ends come installed, but they can be removed and reattached tool-free by hand, loosening the collar and pulling free from the hose. It's really very simple once you have it in your hands, but know that you can reach out to me anytime you are unsure or need help installing! This hose does not need to be brought in or drained during the winter, but you do need to unscrew the ends from your hydrant and FarmFountain™.
Installation Instructions:
Click here to visit the installation instructions page.
Tools needed to install: Cordless drill with a 3/32" drill bit and a 13/8" spade bit or hole saw, and a #2 Phillips driver bit. No plumbing tools or special skills are necessary!!
If you run into any trouble installing your kit and need help, don't hesitate to reach out to me, and I'll be glad to help you!
Tools needed to install: Cordless drill with a 3/32" drill bit and a 13/8" spade bit or hole saw, and a #2 Phillips driver bit. No plumbing tools or special skills are necessary!!
If you run into any trouble installing your kit and need help, don't hesitate to reach out to me, and I'll be glad to help you!
Winter Care Reminder:
Absolutely do not forget to unhook the garden hose and bucket so the water can drain from your FarmFountain assembly before a freeze!! I used heavy-duty metal parts, but even metal will get brittle in freezing temperatures, and when water freezes, it expands with incredible force. Enough to break metal, so make sure to unhook and drain the water out before winter.