Valve placement - auto-water system

[trinityoaks]

Looking for recommendations on which side of the cage to place the valves for the auto-watering system we're designing. Our ten cages are stacked two high in wooden racks, two cages per rack, so there's a good deal of space between cages. They're currently arranged in a U shape, and we're planning to put the bucket on top of the rack at the center of the U.

Do I understand correctly that the best height placement is 8" for adult rabbits and 3-4" for kits? What if I plan to have kits with their dams for a while?

 

[6riversfarms]

I was wondering about this myself. I am installing the rest of my cages and the autowater system next week. After lots of deliberation I have decided on 6" for the height of the valves. I am going to try it and see how it works and make adjustments as necessary.

 

[trinityoaks]

For now, we've decided to place the valves where their water bottles are now, just to make the transition easier on them. Still not sure what we'll do about height.

We just picked up all of the parts yesterday. Can't wait to get it all put together and running!

 

[A&BRabbitry]

I always like to place my valves around 5". It's low enough my kits can get to them when they start venturing out of the nestbox. Of course I raise Cals and NZWs and if you have a smaller breed it might be a little different for the kits.
As far as valvle placement goes I always install on the back side of the cage to the side which is not directly across from the door. This lets me slide my nest boxes straight in and sitting in line with the door. That way it's easier for me to count and check up on my little ones.

You situation might be different though. I have a 1/2" pvc system and the flexible tubing style gives you much more...well "flexibility" with your installation than a rigid pipe does. If you are installing a pvc system though I could send you some pictures later if you would like.

 

[trinityoaks]

I got the bright idea to set them at 8" for now, but leave enough slack in my tubing that I can easily drop them to 4" when I have kits.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I think it was MSD that mentioned a study that found that adults drank more when valves were set at 8" and kits drank more with valves at 4"?

 

[trinityoaks]

I think it was MSD that mentioned a study that found that adults drank more when valves were set at 8" and kits drank more with valves at 4"?

Yeah, that's it. I couldn't remember the details, or which thread I'd read that in, but that's why I had 4" and 8" in my head.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I think it was MSD that mentioned a study that found that adults drank more when valves were set at 8" and kits drank more with valves at 4"?

Yeah, that's it. I couldn't remember the details, or which thread I'd read that in, but that's why I had 4" and 8" in my head.

I can't take the credit for finding the study- it was bunnygal. Here is the original thread, scroll down to her post:

my-breeding-schedule-look-ok-t5333-30.html