With this wicked dry spell I need to get some water around our feeders. I was thinking of a simple 50 Gallon jug under a 5x5 aluminum pitched roof for rain collection.

Anyone have ideas or pointers for what you did or have at your place? Our tanks still have some water but not sure they'll last this summer.

This is what we did out north of San Antonio a few years back. We have made a few modifications since then and releveled the tank from the armadillo that decided to dig a burrow under it. We are planning a couple more with slightly different designs aimed more at small wildlife and birds for the future.

Rain? When did we get rain?!

txags92 said:

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This is what we did out north of San Antonio a few years back. We have made a few modifications since then and releveled the tank from the armadillo that decided to dig a burrow under it. We are planning a couple more with slightly different designs aimed more at small wildlife and birds for the future.

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That's good stuff right there.

West Texas Wildlife Guzzler by dave99ag

Todd 02 said:

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West Texas Wildlife Guzzler by dave99ag

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Thanks!

Here's a picture of the ones I've started building. Obviously this one isn't complete but you get the idea. I'll get the plumbing done on it next week and deliver this one to a client in Comanche county (I've got another one ready to put together for a fellow TexAg poster too). The roof is 6'x8' and the tank is 305 gallons. I'll pre-fill it to start it out with 100-150 gallons of water when delivered. An inch of rain should put about 30 gallons of water in the tank.

One tip I will share is to suggest putting screens over the gutter to keep leaves, insects, small rodents, etc. out of the piping and tank. They will clog up surprisingly fast with a few leaves in there and you lose a lot of rain that would otherwise go in the tank. Also, if you are direct piping into the top of the tank, drill a few air holes in the tank top or lid to allow air pressure back out in the case of heavy rain filling to pipe up and preventing the tank from burping.

How did you keep hogs from destroying your water bowl?

Your setup is similar to what the folks at Plateau sell, and when I see theirs I can't help but think that the bowl is toast, float broken and tank drained in a couple of days due to pigs.

https://plateauwildlife.com/100-water-table/

SanAntoneAg said:

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How did you keep hogs from destroying your water bowl?

Your setup is similar to what the folks at Plateau sell, and when I see theirs I can't help but think that the bowl is toast, float broken and tank drained in a couple of days due to pigs.

https://plateauwildlife.com/100-water-table/

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We run goat panel fences on the property and so far have never had hogs on the property. We know they are across the road down along the Cibolo, but they haven't made it on our property.

10-4, keep counting your blessings!

We definitely have hogs but this would go into a goat style fencing area for the feeder/guzzler area.

And $1200 for that Plateu rig??

Yeah, all their products are grossly overpriced. But something tells me some folks are purchasing from them regardless.

SanAntoneAg said:

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Yeah, all their products are grossly overpriced. But something tells me some folks are purchasing from them regardless.

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I wouldn't say they are grossly overpriced. You can certainly build something similar yourself significantly cheaper if you have a day or two to kill. But for somebody who doesn't have the time or inclination to do it themselves, they offer an easy turnkey solution that can be transported to your site and setup pretty easily. Their stuff seems pretty well made, and not everybody values their free time the same.

Im running blue 55 gallon barrels cut in half.... but Im the water hauler....they seem to be big and heavy enough that hogs havent destroyed..... yet.... So I will be watching this for catchment option...... just gotta get something to fall from sky for the catchment part!!!!?

txags92 said:

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SanAntoneAg said:

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Yeah, all their products are grossly overpriced. But something tells me some folks are purchasing from them regardless.

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I wouldn't say they are grossly overpriced. You can certainly build something similar yourself significantly cheaper if you have a day or two to kill. But for somebody who doesn't have the time or inclination to do it themselves, they offer an easy turnkey solution that can be transported to your site and setup pretty easily. Their stuff seems pretty well made, and not everybody values their free time the same.

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For sure some peoples time is worth more than $1200 but that price does not include assembly and delivery. That's just to pick up the parts and assemble yourself.

I haven't priced out the parts yet so I may be shocked. I'll report back with cost and time it takes. $1200 may be a good deal by the time I'm done ha!

Check with your local USDA-NRCS office. They should have some plans/job sheets that will help. Mind you, they will likely be overkill for what you want, but you can bet they'll be solid.

Update!

Got the guzzler built. I think materials ran ~$300 with the majority being the 275 gallon tote which was $125. I think I might change the pvc leading to the trough to a hose of some sort because I don't think it will last long with deer moving in and out/bucks fighting. But she's done.

On the downside I was in the middle of installing hog panels and managed to split my head open with a t-post driver. I was getting worn out and lazy and brought the driver above the post, caught the top of the post with the bottom lip of the driver and brought the shaft of the driver right into my head. Rang my bell pretty good but didn't get knocked out. Had lots of blood at first which gave me a good scare but managed to stop it rather quickly.

On the upside it rained a couple of hours later. Just need to finish the hog panel and set up the feeder.

Looks great!

An idea that was discussed in one of my wildlife classes in the late 70's was to build two "shed covers"- two covers of four posts each with a tin roof where both have their roofs slanted downhill towards the middle with a trough sitting in the middle underneath to catch the rainwater that runs off. Make them tall enough so that bucks with antlers can get underneath to drink with no problem.

Yeah, that t-post driver started out gray!

I guess we will have to become water farmers like Luke's Uncle Owen and Aunt Baru....

Yesterday said:

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Update!

Got the guzzler built. I think materials ran ~$300 with the majority being the 275 gallon tote which was $125. I think I might change the pvc leading to the trough to a hose of some sort because I don't think it will last long with deer moving in and out/bucks fighting. But she's done.

On the downside I was in the middle of installing hog panels and managed to split my head open with a t-post driver. I was getting worn out and lazy and brought the driver above the post, caught the top of the post with the bottom lip of the driver and brought the shaft of the driver right into my head. Rang my bell pretty good but didn't get knocked out. Had lots of blood at first which gave me a good scare but managed to stop it rather quickly.

On the upside it rained a couple of hours later. Just need to finish the hog panel and set up the feeder.

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A split open head is also why some folks choose to pay for others to do work for them. Just sayin! Hope your noggin heals up OK!

Built 6 of these for our place - it's overkill but the company had extra lumber.

JimmyHouston said:

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Built 6 of these for our place - it's overkill but the company had extra lumber.

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Those looks great! I like the idea of using 4" pipe for the gutter! Finished the hog panels with the help of BQCE and with a helmet on. Got my feeder and game camera set up so will post pics. Just need some rain dammit.