Goats need access to water at any time of the day. If the water is dirty, animals may refuse to drink or become sick. Due to lack of fluid, milk yield decreases, pets lose their appetite, kids and female cats are especially sensitive to it. Therefore, equipping goat drinkers in the goat shed is a prerequisite for proper maintenance of the livestock and its health.
Primary requirements
Drinkers should not be placed next to feeders. Residues of feed, hay or vegetables contaminate the water and can become a source of infection. When choosing a container, consider the following factors:
- it should be convenient for animals to approach it;
- the drinker must be secured so that it is difficult to turn over;
- the container should be easy to clean;
- choose a durable container for water.
It is equipped depending on the number of animals and their age. For kids, the containers are fixed lower than for adult animals so that they can easily reach the water. It is changed daily.
Types of drinking bowls
Water tanks in a goat house can be floor-mounted or wall-mounted, conventional or automatic. Automatic drinkers for industrial production require a water supply to the barn. Pet product manufacturers offer inexpensive plastic options. The advantages of such drinkers are their budget cost and they are easy to clean.
The disadvantage is that they break quickly due to the insufficient strength of the products.
Metal drinkers are durable and strong, but they rust during use. Rust can cause poisoning in animals. They should be coated with metal paint before use. Cast iron containers are durable, difficult to turn over, easy to clean, and do not corrode.
If the owner has only one animal, a bucket or basin is often used for water. They need to be secured, because goats are mobile, restless creatures and often overturn containers. It is better not to place such options on the floor of the goathouse, the animals will splash water, and the room will be damp and dirty. Goats climb into a basin or trough with their feet, they can get wet, and then they easily catch a cold in late autumn and winter. Plastic containers crack, and chips can injure the animal.
For a basin or bucket, you can weld a stand from reinforcement or knock together a stand into which the container will be installed.In addition, you need a tray made of iron or plastic to protect the floor from moisture. The easiest way to secure a bucket is to tie the handle with a rope to a nail or a special ring driven into the wall. The rope can be replaced with a chain. It is convenient to install a basin or bucket in an old car tire. Wall-mounted containers are attached to the door or wall. For adult goats - at a height of 0.5 meters, for kids - 0.2-0.25 meters.
For a large farm, you should purchase or make your own containers with automatic filling. They provide animals with clean water; many industrial models have a liquid heating function. This relieves animals from colds in winter. Experienced farmers praise nipple drinkers; goats quickly get used to them and can drink on their own, but a water supply to the goat's rue is necessary.
Materials and tools
Drinking containers are usually made of metal or plastic. To make a metal drinker, you will need a grinder and a welding machine. To make a plastic version, you will need a soldering iron for plastic pipes and special scissors (you can get by with a hacksaw). Drinkers must be sealed.
How to make it yourself
Drinkers can be made from leftover plastic or metal pipes of suitable diameter. To protect against rust, metal containers are painted. The simplest option is to cut the pipe crosswise, weld it on the sides and secure it to the wall or door.
If there are a lot of animals, and there is space in the goat shed and a large container for water (tank or barrel), it is more convenient to make an automatic waterer. They have a complex structure.They may additionally require, for example, a float shut-off device and hoses.
For small kids, you can purchase a drinking bowl with teats for milk and water. A separate container is provided for pregnant goats. The goat is watered separately from the female goats. A goat drinks from 3 to 5 liters of liquid per day. Regardless of the material from which the drinking bowl is made, it must be clean and comfortable for the animals and the owner. It needs to be rinsed to remove food residues. High-quality care and home improvement for animals will ensure good milk yield, healthy pets and cleanliness in the goat barn.
