would you make a fuss?

[tlck9]

I think I'd say something like "the weather must be getting warmer for the girls, they're drinking loads! In fact they'd even emptied the containers before I got home"

I would perhaps use this sound advice, I had the same issue and the person actually kept chickens on the allotment, so I use her as a backup now rather than the norm, my other lady, keeps them spic and span, tiptop though so as long as she looks after them I know they are okay

But ould make a point of saying they are drinking loads before you go away again so they perhaps check up on it.

[janeyo]

I now have visions of an enormous cat stuck in the catflap!

Don't get me started on home much food there was still in the feed bowls at their bedtime last night, I emptied out more back into the bin that I would have given them 12 hours earlier!

BUT it is VERY KIND of people to look after them and I am very grateful as without it I wouldn't have had such a lovely weekend away

[RichmondHens]

Good point Di. We bought an auto drinker a few years back but found in warm weather it emptied itself as the air warmed up inside and pushed all the water out. I actually stood and watched it do it one hot day. After that went back to washing up bowls. If we are away these days, which is rare, I also double up the containers in each enclosure to ensure enough water for all.

[RichmondHens]

I now have visions of an enormous cat stuck in the catflap!

It was almost like that. She certainly had to wriggle very hard to get out, it was quite funny actually!

[Nicos]

Bit like this???

YouTube - Fat cat vs. cat flap

[Glutton4...]

Nicos behave!

It was funny though! Hope it's slimmer now...

[chicken_house_man]

I use hanging auto drinkers which work fine and need no maintenance other than a quick wipe every so often. At around £10 they are great value for money, spares are easily available. Mine are now 3 years old.

[minskey]

You've got me worrying about my washing up bowls now; they are only shallow, a chook could and do stand in them and the water comes upto thier tums. I have two, when it gets warmer I'll pop another in.

[minskey]

Chicken House man, whta is a hanging auto drinker?

[Snadger]

.............. I'm pretty sure another Grape lost one in a belfast sink too!

Twas I! Still have the belfast sink but it has a breeze block in the middle of it so a chook can't inadverdantly fall in and not be able to get out!

[mr darcy]

don't say a word, just leave more water containers full!

[petal]

or get one of those massive water things that look like space ships!

[Hilary B]

Would one of the small self-filling troughs, like we used to use for sheep at lambing time, be possible? There is a water inlet (from mains, but you could connect to a big water butt) controlled by a ball-valve, under a lid so the livestock can't muck about with it, ad an open 'end' which could be any of various sizes, where they actually drink.
Our sheep one had the ball-valve bit in the middle, and each 'end' was about 8 inches by 18, and the normal water depth was about 4 inches (and adjustable).
I'm sure the same sort of thing could be found or improvised for chooks, then the only attention they need is to make sure it isn't too dirty (and if fed from a rain butt or similar, that THAT isn't empty, but it should only need doing once in 2 weeks....).

[MaureenHall]

That's the sort of thing I was thinking of too Hilary Need to get my thinking head on properly

[frias]

I wouldn't say anything but would invest in more drinkers. I've only got 6 chickens but have an 8ltr green/white drinker in the covered run plus 2 bunny bottles with ACV added. A B&Q bucket in the uncovered run and another bucket in the middle of the lawn. None of my lot balance on the buckets to drink, they just put their heads over so don't think they will drown. Having so many drinkers means they never run out of water and when I wash the containers out, I don't have to worry about returning them immediately as there's always an alternative.