[snow white]

At the moment I have a normal drinker and feeder.  I hang the drinker up but the hens still manage to get dirt and woodchips in the water.  It is also difficult to fill and requires a lot of coordination.  Thinking of trying a nipple drinker.  Also, my hens make a mess of my feeder, flicking food everywhere and wasting a lot.  Thinking of trying a spring feeder from a hanging bucket so they have to work for their food.   Now the question is, what are peoples experiences of these two systems?  Look forward to your replies...

[jennie hennie]

Do you use pellets or mash? I find pellets less messy and have also taught mine to use a treadle feeder so there's no mess at all.
Don't know about drinkers , mine prefer the pond

[snow white]

I use pellets.

[joyfull]

my feeders have a scratch guard on them to prevent them kicking food everywhere 

[snow white]

does anyone use a spring feeder?  Do the pellets get stuck?

[joyfull]

I know pheasants manage them ok but I have never tried them with hens.

[jhub]

Mine have nipple drinkers which they manage without a problem.

[Sassy]

For water I have found that a small bucket works best for me. Easy to fill and clean out. Cleaning out the usual green/white drinkers was a nightmare and I struggled to keep the algae down in summer despite daily attention. The hens can reach in easily but it is nearly impossible for them to kick stuff into it. I know Hillfooter also uses small buckets. Plus they are cheap and can often be recycled from equestrian supplements, pubs and restaurants.

[Hen 1-0 Fox]

I am also suffering from an algae intensive cleaning regime with my classic style plastic drinker so am watching this thread with interest. I'm guessing algae grow on most drinker setups though?

[Fiona55]

I actually have pellets but they did not like them much - so until I run out I am soaking pellets.  No mess its great.  I also hang up my water feeder & it does not get too messy.

[jhub]

Have used pastic drinkers for two years and have not had a problem with algae (yet)

[Hen 1-0 Fox]

Have used pastic drinkers for two years and have not had a problem with algae (yet)

Really? When I take mine apart I can see the algae and have to wash it off, thin dark layer of grime is visible after only a couple of days in the run.

[Taylor40]

I use plastic drinkers and feeders. I take them out each night when the girls go off to bed. The feeders go into the shed and the drinkers are left by the hose ready for filling in the morning with fresh water. Not had any bother with any of them...

[Sassy]

I still get algae in the bucket but it is so much easier to clean and keep clean with no awkward place to try and get into.

[GrannieAnnie]

We have plastic drinkers and feeders, but the thing we use most are these half height buckets, £1 from cheapy shops.

Some I've had 4 years out in all weathers.  they rarely get tipped over.  Usually if they get short of water and more than one hen is sitting on the same side trying to reach in.  But that doesn't happen much.