what drinker do you use?

[nmayhew]

hi guys,
i have 5 Light Sussex, and maybe adding a trio later in season...

i currently use one of those galvanized metal towers for their water, the one where extra water is stored in the tower

problem is that it never seems to feed into the drinking bit - it always has to be opened up manually, allowed to drain in, and then closed again

this is not a massive problem, but wondered what other people use?

ideally looking for something where if we had to leave for 24-36 hours and it was sunny, i wouldn't be worrying about the girls' water, which is what would happen at the moment

many thanks,

Nick

[di]

I just use sturdy plastic dog bowls...there's two in each run as this weather they really do drink loads.
I got fed up with how fiddly the proper drinkers are...you could guarantee the day I go up there for a quick check before going out that they'd need refilling and I'd end up with chook poop over my hands and trousers where I'd try to get the base off
Also,the bit they drink from is so small it would get clogged up with 'run material'.
I still have a couple,one of which is in with our broody and it will stay while the chicks are little.

[Glutton4...]

I have two of these. I went for galvanised, as they are longer-lasting and far more robust than the plastic type.

NEW 30L GALVANISED METAL DRINKER,POULTRY,CHICKENS,DUCKS on eBay (end time 20-May-10 22:16:46 BST)

I suspect this is what you have, but I don't know why you're having problems. One of mine occasionally lets air in where the bottom nozzle is fitted, and that causes it to drain all the water out. I just have to make sure it's done up tightly enough. I like them so much I'm considering getting two more, so there's no chance them running out when I have to leave other people to look after them.

I did use buckets temporarily, but I had a chicken jump in and drown.

[nmayhew]

thx - no never seen those - they look cool!

i have one which sits flat on ground, with a lift off tower - here it is from the same site:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-9L-ELTEX-G...5#ht_703wt_939

thx again

Nick

[Shellintons]

Glutton, I am so pleased to see that, thank you. I have a couple of the lift off tower ones and they are such a pain in the bum, as andi&di said they fill up with anything the chooks kick at it. I will certainly be getting one of those nice ones you have. I may have a fighting chance of not having to sort water twice a day

[MaureenHall]

The galvanised ones look good but you can't add ACV to the water (if you ever need or want to) because it reacts with the metal. I didn't like the big plastic ones when I first started using them but I suppose I've just got used to them now

[Suechooks]

To stop them scratching all sorts of dross in the green and white plastic drinkers I stand mine on a pallet or the smaller ones on a couple of bricks. Problem solved

[Bramble-Poultry]

we use all sorts but they are currently all being moved over (phase by phase) to 6' planting troughs with ball and float valve hooked up to the mains. That way they are always full and fresh.

[Glutton4...]

The galvanised ones look good but you can't add ACV to the water (if you ever need or want to) because it reacts with the metal...

You can't add it to the galvanised hopper, but you can put a splosh in the plastic bowl at the bottom!

If any of you buy one, make sure to get an extra ball for the bottom - they only last until the first winter then one side perishes and they have to be replaced. They're very cheap though, so no problems to keep a spare or two.

[frias]

I've got an 8 litre green and white drinker which hangs up so the girls can't get their feet in. Two bunny bottles with ACV in and 2 B&Q buckets, one in the run and another on the lawn. If one runs dry or gets knocked over there's always an alternative. I wouldn't advise a bucket for youngsters or small hens though as they might stand on the edge to reach and fall in. I find buckets easier to carry for washing and filling than bowls. If falling in was a worry I suppose an upturned crock flower pot or bricks inside the bucket would help. The buckets only cost 99p and are really easy to clean.

[jessmorris]

Solway feeders on the web do all sorts of automatic drinkers and they are quite cheap (£10 ish). You have a bucket or tank of water above the drinker and fresh water drains into it via a hose. Sounds good to me. they do hanging ones as well which is handy.

[MaureenHall]

we use all sorts but they are currently all being moved over (phase by phase) to 6' planting troughs with ball and float valve hooked up to the mains. That way they are always full and fresh.

That's exactly what I was thinking of changing over to, especially for the summer when I might be away for a few days. I'll have to arrange to come over and see how you've done it

[chicken_house_man]

I use these. Very low maintenance, spares available and very cheap.

[MaureenHall]

Great Thanks for that

[Hinksy]

Bowls, buckets just get dirty very quickly, the Chickens will stand on the edge of the bowl and get the water dirty with there feet. Funny though I put a large bowl in the coop a while back and one of the Chickens would sit on the edge and one of the others would push her in the water!

We have a 30l drinker and 20kg feeder, the 30l drinker keeps all 5 of them going for about 2weeks.