[joyfull]

if you have the feeders undercover like some of mine are you don't need to use the rain hats as they also come with another indoor hat as well or even without a hat and can be hung up. The Blenhems indoor hat can also be drilled to hook a chain through onto the metal bar for hanging up.

[hillfooter]

right then just placed my order! i have ordered two of the 6 ltr drinkers, one of the green and white feeders hillfooter recomended and one of the blenheim feeders that joyfull uses then i can see how i get along with them and which i prefer!

You are obviously a diplomat Massa but keep us posted on your assessment.  Actually I doubt you will go far wrong with either feeder.  What I would say with the green one is that you need to periodically check the tightness of the wingnut under the dispenser when you top up as if it's hung up the chx pecking in it can turn the trough and unscrew it when it becomes empty.  Also when you dismantle it to clean it periodically, ensure you retain the wingnut, flat washer and split washer under the green trough AND the flat washer on the threaded central screw which is exposed when you remove the green feeding trough.  It's easy to lose this down the plug hole if you are washing it as it's loose on the thread and falls off once the green trough is removed.  If you lose any of these replace them as it doesn't reassemble properly without them.  The spring washer helps to prevent the wingnut unscrewing.  This feeder is usually also supplied with a conical lid which covers the open top of the tube and is intended to keep out mice descending the hanging cord.  Sometimes this doesn't get supplied but I never use it anyway as it makes unhooking and filling awkward.
Regards
HF