[Bigblacktaximan]

How quick do they usually empty ?

I have a 4ltr one thats emptying every day, ( Ive only got 6 hybrids)

Ok I know you lose a bit when you turn it up the right way,   but I make sure to stand it level (how curious did my neighbour look at me with a spirit level inside the chicken run  )

A few millimeters from the lip, there's two holes 180 degrees apart and if the base is not level the holes are not under water and you can see air going in and the water in the base overflows and runs away.

its academic I know as I change the water daily anyways,   but are 6 hybrid drinking that much, is it leaking away somehow and if so,  is that how they work ?

I need to work it out as
A. it errks me somewhat not knowing
B. when I have my chooks on the allotment I want to be sure there will be a good supply of water so may have to go for a different waterer option.

[poultrygeist]

Hi bbtm.

Could you take a photo of it please ?

Can't quite imagine what you mean by holes. Do you mean the cutout bit in the base that lets the water glugg into the tray part ?

The lip of the tray should be higher than the cutouts so that it stops glugging before it reaches the lip. Otherwise it will just run away. I would have thought you should be left with about half the water left at least.

Rob

[GrannieAnnie]

The green and white drinkers do have little holes for the water to glug out of Rob, rather than cutouts.

although 4 litres isn't all that much, it should last 6 hybrids a day.  sounds like it either has a tiny leak or is there any chance the hens can tip it over at all?

One of my oldest green and white drinkers lost one of the little leg bits on the white (where you can stand the white bit up to fill it with water) and made a biggish hole.  I blocked it up with Milliput which is actually for modelling repairs, and it's lasted me another 2 years before it started leaking again.

Most of our girls have these half height buckets, £1 each from the cheap shops.  Holds about 2 gallons, would be great for when your girls are at the allotment!  And some of ours we've had for 3 years out in all weathers!

[Bigblacktaximan]

Thanks both of you for the replies.

the two holes I mention are a few millitres down from the top edge of the white water resevoir,    you fill the white bit with water, put on the base and twist to clip  it in place,   then turn the whole thing over quickly in order to lose as little water as possible.

With the waterer the right way up,   the two holes need to be level and below the water level in the bottom (green section) otherwise air glugs in and the green circular trough overflows 

It just bugs me that it seems to empty in less than a day (7am  - 7pm)

And yes, they have knocked it over more than once   

[agapanthus]

Thanks both of you for the replies.

the two holes I mention are a few millitres down from the top edge of the white water resevoir,    you fill the white bit with water, put on the base and twist to clip  it in place,   then turn the whole thing over quickly in order to lose as little water as possible.

With the waterer the right way up,   the two holes need to be level and below the water level in the bottom (green section) otherwise air glugs in and the green circular trough overflows 

It just bugs me that it seems to empty in less than a day (7am  - 7pm)

And yes, they have knocked it over more than once   

A few of ours had very tiny leaks at the bottom. If they are being knocked over a lot, the I reckon that's your problem!

[joyfull]

I would (just to be on the safe side) provide them with another water drinker as well, this way if one tips over the other will still be available. I too used the buckets like Grannie (untill OH decided he needed them urgently in his garage - not too bad though as he did buy me 2 new 15 litre drinkers to replace them  ), don't worry about hens falling in them mine never did and neither has Grannies, some just lean over and others perch on the rim  .