How to Make a Water Tube for Pigs

Providing fresh water to your pigs is essential. In the summer heat, a pig without water will suffer and die. Fresh available water will reduce ailments in your pigs and keep them growing and thriving. Buckets and troughs are difficult to use with pigs, as they will tip them over to have mud to wallow in, or break them and play with them. Automatic waterers will keep you from having to haul water, or at least a hose, over to the pig's pen a few times a day. They will also reduce the amount of water wasted, which is important if you pay for water.

Things You'll Need

  • Pen and paper
  • Pig nipple (sometimes sold as dog nipple waterer)
  • 1/2 inch PVC pipe
  • 1/2 inch PVC female couplers, 2
  • Elbows and T-junctions, as needed
  • Teflon tape
  • PVC cement
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Instructions

    • 1
      Detailed designs make the building part simpler.

      Design your pipe on paper so you can see everything you'll need. Where is your water source? How far to the pen? How many changes of direction? Once you have a design and a list of materials, you can purchase the supplies in one trip rather than running back and forth to the hardware store.

    • 2

      Attach the PVC pipe to your water source with a threaded female coupler, using the teflon tape to prevent leakage. Run the pipe to the pen, cutting and attaching angles as needed. At the pens, install T-junctions to allow each pen, or each set of 10 pigs, their own nipple.

    • 3

      Measure your pigs and mount their waterers at a height slightly above their shoulders to allow for growth and less waste. Studies show that a higher waterer wastes less water and promotes more drinking. Keep in mind that as they grow you may need to raise the waterer a few times.

    • 4

      Fasten the pipe to a sturdy fencepost or wall so the pigs cannot knock it down. Connect the final female coupler to the pipe and then screw the nipple onto it, using the teflon tape to prevent leaks.

    • 5

      Train the young pigs to find the nipple by allowing them to go without water for a few hours, then hold the nipple with your fingers to allow water to run out. They will be attacted to the sounds and will explore the waterer until they figure it out. Older pigs may be trained using the same method, but it is best to begin using the nipple waterer with piglets.