The Poultry Keeper

NannyP · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:41 pm Post subject: Drinkers

I have 3 drinkers, I think they probably hold 1.5 litre and are the white plastic ones in a red base. Now, call me slow but, I often find it difficult to find a suitable flat piece of ground for these, and therefore can sometimes lose some of the water whilst placing them. I have one down in the run, which is on a slope and 2 up in the garden on a very poorly thrown together table (by me Embarassed

). More recently, with 14 chickens drinking and the hot weather, I find I am forever filling them I suspect that the cats and the local squirrel have been helping themselves too.

What on earth is she telling us this for, I hear you ask. Well, here's the thing.
What do you use? Are the drinkers on legs better, and what size would you recommend? I don't want galvanised, I need to be able to see the water situation.
I await your bountiful knowledge mon amis Wink

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

What a fabulously brilliant question, and one which deserves a great answer.

I use a 10 Ltr one on a few blocks to keep it off the ground and it seems to last OK, but I like the idea of the nipple drinkers, less wastage and you can have a big header tank, (or even connect to the mains)

I noticed that mojo had the ones on legs ! wonder how he finds that one?

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I have a 10ltr one and a couple of 1 ltrs and a 4 ltr I think. They're not always all filled though as the girls seem to be able to fill the middle one's tray with wood chips and kick the little ones over, so the best one is the largest one. It does have legs but they don't seem to be that secure so like George I have it on a couple of bricks, also lets the babies get to the water by standing on the bricks!

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

I have 3- 7 gallon ones place stratigically round the coop. The ducky pool and 2 horse troughs. The pool and troughs are the first choice of all the girls. Must be the dead bugs floating on top and the scum....... Rolling Eyes

Hardly ever touch the sparkling clean chicken waterers. Confused

debcat · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:19 pm Post subject:

Bhindi · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:26 pm Post subject:

I have 1 purpose made one hanging in my coop but for outside, i've placed a gardening tray much like a huge cat litter tray, about 2' square in the garden and it catches the rain water which they probably prefer anyway, and I can top it up easily with the hose. I half expected to eventually see a chicken paddling through the summer but no such luck.

NannyP · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:26 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, thanks guys, now do they sell horse troughs at Ascotts??

I think I'll order me a big drinker, save me up and down all the time. And, raise it up to avoid the inevitable mess that they make Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:57 pm Post subject:

Here you go Nannyp Laughing

http://www.smallholdersupplies.com/item1986.htm

Two Pots Bantams · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Cambridgeshire

We use mostly 9 litre and 4 litre plastic drinkers . Instead of blocks we use Disco Stands which are a perforated raised plastic platform that keeps the drinkers off the ground but stops the immediate area from getting muddy and also stops Hemcore or chippings from getting into the water . I don't know if Ascot sell them but you can get them mail order from Solway feeders .
Colin .

CP · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:43 am Post subject:

This what you mean, Colin?

http://www.smallholdersupplies.com/item1700.htm

Can't really recommend anything NannyP. We use galvanised ones & a fountain drinker in enamelled steel. Small plastic ones when we give them the ACV, and a glass/galvanised one inside the shed.

Knobby · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:41 am Post subject:

I use BIG galvanised ones !!!

Theyre a bit of a bugger if I forget to leave them out over night in the middle of winter !!! Confused

mojo · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:36 am Post subject: hi

the best i have found are the normal white with red base type stood on a breeze block laid on its side and levelled .............the big on legs one is a pain i fill it ................some clown of a chook then upsets the level and the water dribbles away i wont buy that sort again back to basics for me.........hope that helps...........mojo Cool

lilly the pink · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

I have found that those ones with the red bases seem to disintegrate in the sun. They are not very UV stable.

I have big 15L ones on legs but it is hard to find to find level places to stand them and also if the wind is blowing the wrong way it can spill all the water out like that.

I have made bases for my drinkers by levelling round paving slabs on sand and putting them on those. However, I still find the chickens queuing up to drink the disgusting brown sludge that drips out of our wormery into an old bucket!!!

CP · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:45 am Post subject:

mojo · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: hi

come on someone bright how about a cheap nipple waterer and piccy please....mojo Cool