Chicken waterer leaking?

[gardenlady]

I saw several ideas on how to make your own 5 gal. waterer, so I have tried twice and can't figure out why the water just keeps flowing over the top of the large flower saucer. The first 5 gal. bucket I drilled several holes under the water line.---too much flow?
The second bucket, I only drilled one 1/4" hole---it still kept flowing! What makes everyone else's work? Do I have to hurry and put the lid on it? Maybe I'll try that...

 

[A.T. Hagan]

These type of waterers operate on the vacuum principle. As the water runs out of the bucket a vacuum forms within until it reaches the point where the vacuum is stronger than the gravity trying to make the water run out. So long as the hole remains under the water line and there are no air leaks the waterer will not overflow.

It sounds like you either have an air leak that is preventing a vacuum from forming or that enough water is running out as the vacuum is forming inside to overflow your water bowl. If the bucket is completely emptying itself that would suggest an air leak.