Alright, let’s talk about setting up those nipple waterers for the pigs. I got tired of cleaning muddy water troughs all the time, honestly. It just felt like a never-ending chore, and the water never stayed clean for long.
Getting Started – The Parts
So, first thing, I had to get the bits and pieces together. I went down to the farm supply store. Didn’t need anything too fancy.
- Grabbed a bunch of those pig nipples. Got the standard size, seemed about right for my mix of growers.
- Picked up some PVC pipe. I think it was 3/4 inch? Seemed sturdy enough.
- Needed elbows and T-connectors to route the pipe around the pens.
- PVC primer and cement. Can’t forget that purple stuff.
- Some pipe straps or clamps to hold the pipes to the fence panels.
- Teflon tape for the threads on the nipples. Learned that lesson the hard way on other projects – prevents leaks.
- A drill bit the right size for tapping the holes for the nipples.
Had most of the tools already, like a pipe cutter and a drill. So that was easy enough.
Putting It Together
Back at the farm, I laid out the pipes roughly where I wanted them in the first pen. Had to figure out the height. You want it comfortable for the pigs to reach, maybe shoulder height? A bit lower for the younger ones. I decided to run one main line along the fence panel.
Okay, here’s what I did, step-by-step basically:
First, I cut the main PVC pipe sections to length. Measured twice, cut once… mostly. Had one piece a bit short, had to use an extra connector later. No big deal.
Then, drilling the holes for the nipples. Marked out the spots, maybe every couple of feet? Gave them some space. Drilled the holes straight through one side of the pipe. Needed to make sure the drill didn’t wobble, wanted a clean hole.
Next up, tapping the holes. Some folks just screw the nipples straight into the PVC, but I like tapping threads. Feels more secure. So, I carefully ran the tap into each hole I drilled. Took a little time but worth it, I think.
Wrapped some teflon tape around the threads of each nipple – maybe 3 or 4 wraps? Then screwed them tight into the tapped holes in the PVC pipe. Made sure they were pointing slightly downwards, makes it easier for the pigs to drink.
Once the nipples were in, I started connecting the pipe sections. Put that purple primer on the ends and the inside of the fittings, then the cement, and pushed them together with a little twist. Had to work kinda fast before the cement set. Built the whole line section by section.
Mounting it was next. Used those pipe straps and screwed them right onto the wooden posts and fence panels I have. Made sure it was really solid. Pigs aren’t exactly gentle creatures, you know? Didn’t want them ripping it off the wall on day one.
Finally, connecting the water. I ran a hose from my main water source over to the start of the PVC line. Used the right adapter fittings to connect the hose securely to the PVC pipe. Put a shut-off valve right there too, so I can easily turn off water to that specific line if needed.
Turning It On and Watching
Moment of truth. Turned the water on slowly. Walked the line, checking every nipple and connection for leaks. Had one little drip from a fitting I didn’t push together quite right. Turned the water off, pulled it apart (wasn’t fully set yet, thankfully), added more cement, and stuck it back together. Waited a bit, turned the water back on. Success! No leaks.
The pigs were curious, of course. Sniffing around the new setup. Took one or two of the smarter ones to figure it out. Nudged the nipple, water came out, and they got the hang of it pretty fast. The others watched and learned quick enough. It was actually kinda funny watching them figure out this new gadget.
Was It Worth It?
Absolutely. It’s been a game changer. The water stays clean. Way less waste compared to the troughs getting filled with mud and feed. And honestly, it saves me a ton of time and hassle not having to scrub those dang troughs every day. They just walk up, get a drink, and move on. Simple as that. Took an afternoon of work, but the payoff has been great.
