How To Make an Orphan Foal Feeder
Image courtesy of Russell Ellis.
Special thanks to Russell Ellis of Ellis Quarter Horse Farm for sharing these instructions for how to make your own orphan foal feeder. Ellis would like to thank his good friend Robin Bales for the idea.
Robin’s instructions were to get an Igloo cooler and remove the valve at the bottom. After that, you could get a 1/2″ PVC nipple and screw it in where the valve was and put a black lamb’s nipple over the end of the PVC nipple. My problem was that I couldn’t find a small Igloo cooler anywhere. The only thing I could find was a Coleman 1 gallon cooler that had a spout on the top. From there, I took the cooler to Menard’s and bought the following:
- 2 – 2″ long x 1/2″ diameter PVC threaded nipples
- 1 – 1/2″ threaded PVC coupler
- 1- 3/4″ x 1/2″ SPGXT PVC bushing – the 1/2″ end of this bushing is threaded.
Finding gaskets was a problem, but I ended up buying two 3/4″ electrical union kits. Each kit has a rubber washer in it that will fit over the 1/2″ PVC nipples.
Inside the cooler, there is a flat area at the bottom where the valve would go if it had one. I drilled a hole through the cooler so it would come through that flat area inside. You’ll have to use either a 5/8″ or 3/4″ wood drill bit to drill the hole because the outside diamter of a 1/2″ PVC pipe is about 3/4″. I would suggest matching up the drill bit to your pipe before drilling the hole. Make sure you drill the hole high enough that you can fit the bushing on the 1/2″ nipple on the inside of the cooler.
After drilling the hole, slide one of the 2″ x 1/2″ nipples through it. It should fit tightly. You may have to beat on it a little to get it all the way through. Make sure you have plenty of thread showing on both the inside and outside of the cooler. Place one of the washers over the nipple on the inside of the cooler and screw the bushing onto it hand tight. Take the other washer and put it over the nipple on the outside of the cooler. Then, screw the coupler onto that side of the nipple, again hand tight.
Take a couple of pairs of channel locks and with one pair hold the inside bushing while you’re using the other pair to screw the coupler on tight. This should draw both washers tight to the cooler body and most likely pull in the outside of the cooler somewhat. After that, screw in the remaining 2″ x 1/2″ nipple on the other end of the coupler and put the black lamb’s nipple over the open end. Secure the lamb’s nipple with a wire tie as tight as you can. VOILA – you now have a orphan foal feeder!
Ours has a slight drip coming from where the 2″ x 1/2″ nipple goes through the cooler, and I’m going to put a bead of silicone caulking around it on the outside of the cooler to try to stop it.
Hope this helps anybody else who has an orphan foal. “Jase” took to ours right away! He is doing great and loves his feeder. It sure makes life easier, not only for us, but it lets him drink when he wants, more naturally, as if he was on a mare!”
Jase is by Supernatural Fella and is owned by Russ and Felisha Ellis. He is one of 12 foals that were born to very special mare named Shy Anne Thistle. Unfortunately, the mare passed away shortly after foaling Jase, but not before providing all of the necessary colostrum to help him get a good start in life.
