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DRIP CHICK -3 “CUSTOM” INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
WATER THIEF
Your kit comes with the parts needed to assemble a “water thief”, a term used to describe a mechanism for
“stealing” water from one application to use for another. Your kit comes with either a ported adapter or sill
cock “faucet”. The 1/8” port on the side is there to accommodate the needle valve. The needle valve is what
controls the water being taken from the faucet for your Autowaterkit. The steps for installation are as follows:
1.
Shut-off the domestic water valve that supplies the faucet you will use to
supply your kit.
2.
Remove the existing faucet and apply teflon tape or pipe dope to the male threads to
ensure a water tight connection. Install the ported faucet or adapter.
3.
If you’re using an adapter, reinstall the old faucet on top of the adapter. Again use
Teflon tape or pipe dope. Pay special attention to ensure the port is accessible for
the needle valve. Use a wrench to tighten the connections…do not over tighten.
4.
Apply Teflon tape or pipe dope to the male threads of the needle valve and install
into the 1/8“port of the adapter or faucet. Hand tighten. Snug-up with a wrench to
ensure water tight connection. Pay special attention to ensure the outlet of the
needle valve is pointing in the desired direction.
5.
Close the needle valve then turn on the domestic supply to check for leaks.
Tighten as needed.
6.
The needle valve comes with a ¼” compression nut and sleeve. Remove the
pieces. They will be used to attach the ¼” poly supply hose.
¼” SUPPLY HOSE ASSEMBLY
Your kit ships with 50 feet of ¼” poly supply hose that is used to fill your reservoir. We recommend that you
bury this hose to protect against freezing and/or damage. 4-6 inches should suffice ( depending on climate).
7.
Slip the compression nut over the end of the hose you intend to connect first. Do
the same with the compression sleeve. Push them both back on the hose an inch
or two (note: these are the parts you removed from the needle valve).
8.
Install the brass insert sleeve into the end of the hose. Then slide the
compression nut and sleeve over the insert so all 3 brass parts occupy the
extreme end of the hose.
9.
Attach the hose to the needle valve. Finger tighten, then snug-up with a wrench.
No need for Teflon or dope. (Note: Once tightened, the sleeve will distort a bit.
This will make it difficult to reapply to the poly hose if you decide to shorten your
hose at a later date. It is possible though!)
RESERVOIR
Unless specified, your reservoir and lid will come with all holes pre-drilled. The brass outlet port will be
installed and checked for water tightness.
10.
The brass float valve also ships with a ¼” compression nut and sleeve. Remove
these and repeat step #7. Don’t forget the brass insert.
11.
Remove the float valve lock-nut and install the float valve in the pre-drilled hole
near the top of the reservoir. Ensure the gasket is on the inside of the reservoir.
12.
Install the float valve lock-nut then snug up with a wrench. Do not over tighten.
13.
Attach the ¼” supply hose to the float inlet and snug-up. Again, do not over
tighten, and no need for Teflon tape or dope.
PIPE ASSEMBLY
Your Drip Chick 3 (Custom) does not come with any ½” pvc pipe. You need to supply this along with
couplers and glue to meet the particular needs of your pen. The following items, however, are included:
1- ½” slip to ¾ hose thread adapter.
1- ½” T coupler
1-½” Elbow coupler
2- ½ caps
Specified # of glue-on cup brackets
There are as many ways to assemble a custom watering kit as there are coop configurations! This is just the
way I do it! For cups I like to keep my pipe outside the pen. With nipples it will have to be inside and slightly
higher as the birds drink from underneath.
14.
We recommend that you determine the location of your reservoir, then build out from
there. Using a short piece of pipe, glue together the hose thread adapter to either the T
or elbow coupler. This, along with the 4” brown flex hose, is the part that connects your
reservoir to your custom pipe assembly.
15.
Lay out and glue the straight runs of your pipe to reach all pens. Line up the
manufacturers’ text on the pipe as you glue them together to create a relatively straight
line to use as a reference when drilling the holes for your cup brackets.
16.
We use ½” “J” type electrical hangers to secure the pipe to the structure if wooden. Wire
or zip ties also work. Set the pipe at a height for the size of birds that you keep.
17.
Determine the location of your cups and, and using the text as a guide, drill a hole
in the the pipe. Use a drill bit 11/32” in size. Make sure there are no burrs, and that the
bracket seats with no resistance or you may not get a good seal!
18.
Generally the brackets attach to the bottom of the pipe. Pay attention to the direction of
the bracket before gluing it in place as you may be rotating the pipe 180 degrees into
place. If you make a mistake don’t worry, brackets will work on top or bottom.
19.
Apply a generous amount of pvc glue to the bracket (and pipe if you like) ensuring all
contact surfaces have glue on them. Install the bracket and use a clamp to hold in place.
If no clamps are available, use channels locks or pliers to hold the saddle in place for
about a minute. Wipe off excess glue with a rag.
20.
While your brackets are drying, go ahead and glue your pipe assembly together starting
at the reservoir (See # 14). Consider using a valve at the end of your pipe assembly to
facilitate draining. An unglued cap will suffice though as the low pressure will not
dislodge it.
21.
Attach the flex hose from the brass reservoir outlet to the pipe assembly. Hand tighten.
22.
Before installing your cups or nipples, flow some water through your system to wash
away pvc particles or other debris.
23..
Install cups or nipples (use Teflon for nipples) and away you go!
Don’t be afraid to call if you have questions!
RESERVOIR PLATFORM AND RECOMMENDED OPERATING PRESSURE.
The Drip-Chick Series is a low pressure, gravity fed system. This means the operating pressure is generated
by an elevated water source. We offer our customers two popular dispensing devices, watering cups and
nipples. There is a slight difference in the recommended operating pressure of these two devices. They are
as follows:
NipplesDrinker cups-
approx…….1 psi
less than….5 psi
This is important because it will help you determine the height of your reservoir. Generally speaking, 1 foot
of elevation = ½ psi of pressure. This is measured from the top of your water level, not the bottom of the
reservoir. In other words, if the top of my reservoir is 4 feet above my drinker cups, the applied pressure
would be 2 psi. The flex hose allows more versatility in the placement of your pipe assembly. It also allows
you to elevate your reservoir for more head pressure should you decide to expand your watering system in
the future.
Thanks again for purchasing our product! We are committed to helping you save time, energy and money,
leaving you with more time, energy and money to enjoy your flock! Please let us know if there is any way we
can help or if you have any suggestions on how we can improve our products, website or instruction
documentation. Blessings to you in all your endeavors!
Jim & Heidi
209.988.7818
Autowaterkit.com