Water feeders

[Nicos]

I've got a small plastic one for inside the coop which the gals have access to day and night.
At the moment we have 9 chooks- 8 more eggs being sat upon- and I want to get 3 or 4 Marans ( see it's going up from 3 the longer I'm thinking about it!!)

So- I don't think the plastic one will be big enough for 20 birds....so should I be thinking of getting a metal one for the field so it doesn't blow away???

Will it get too hot in the sun- or should it be placed in the shade????

[sesa]

Check these out, I made the waterer a week ago and it works great.

Toolmaking Art Chicken Feeders

[Nicos]

Gosh- what a good idea!!!

I've really got to get into the frame of mind of not just buying things ready made!!..you must feel really chuffed with that! well done!

[bluemoon]

They look good Sesa. We've made a temporary one out of an empty plastic milk carton (2 litre) Basically you just cut a chicken's head sized hole out of the side at the top and fill the bottom with water. No good for 20 chooks, but it's working really well for our growers, especially as it can be tied to the chicken-wire to stop it being knocked over and especially seeing as how we went to buy a new one and forgot it... but bought some more growers.

[Glutton4...]

This is one of my Water Hoppers, I have one either side of the run, so there's no squabbling. They hold 30 litres each, and the plastic bowl allows you to put garlic and ACV in as required. I fill them with rainwater, and each lasts nearly two weeks between fills, that's with 20 Hens.

I got them on eBay, and they weren't cheap, but should last forever (I hope).

[bluemoon]

Now that's the sort of thing I'll be looking for eventually, Glutton.

[MaureenHall]

That looks much better than my buckets Buckets get coated with algae so quickly in the sunshine so I could do with an alternative

[Hilary B]

It's a chicken version of the ring feeders used for cattle in the field.
Excellent idea! Any plastic bucket (with handle) and large bottle (as long as it fits inside the bucket) would do the job, adapted the same way.

[Hilary B]

Thought this could do with bringing back to the top.

[RichmondHens]

I just use old washing up bowls, filled to the top with fresh water and ACV daily. Filled right up they are heavy enough not to be knocked over in the morning skirmish. One bowl per dozen chickens seems to be plenty as they are never empty by night time. I give them a good scrub once a week with a stiff brush but the ACV stops anything growing in them anyway.