Don't buy this waterer.

[JoeInPA]

Why I keep some pavers around, many cut in half...have blocks cut in half too.
They'll be fine with it where it is now.

I have lots of bricks around, left overs from when we built the house. A couple bricks should put it at the right level.

 

[aart]

I have lots of bricks around, left overs from when we built the house. A couple bricks should put it at the right level.

Bricks should work.
Something that caught my eye here......put the holes on the block going horizontal, so mice can't shelter in them. BTDT.

 

[JoeInPA]

Schitt happens I'm pretty good at laughing at myself though

 

[Cryss]

Schitt happens I'm pretty good at laughing at myself though

And I'm laughing because I also found out the hard way last year at 5 in the morning. I'm going with the idea of turning it into a planter for the win.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I use heated dog bowls, but purchase a free standing regular waterer back when my chickens were babies. Hate it!!! It dumps ALL the water out when you try to flip it.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Nope silkie taught 4 week old peeps to use nipples to get water and they could activate them I would not ever go back to anything here

Mine use nipple in the warm months but not sure my ducks could.

 

[JoeInPA]

It locks pretty tight and can get frozen in place if you get thaw/freeze cycles where it warms up enough to thaw and then hard freezes. I plan my refills around when the weather is warm enough for the top to not freeze in place.

It's sized to perch very well on top of an upside down bucket, which also places it at a pretty good height for standard size birds to access. A upside down flower pot could probably work as well if you want to adjust the height.

The fact that it's not transparent is a bonus for me, I specifically looked for that, as an opaque waterer in my location doesn't grow algae. But yes that does make it hard to see how much water is in it. I'm pretty good at figuring out how full it is by just giving it a lift with the handle - if I have to try to lift it, it's still full enough.

The fact that it's not transparent is a just minor inconvenience as long as I can pick it up without the bottom falling off or it spilling everywhere. Seems like it would be a good fit for what I need.

 

[JoeInPA]

I went ahead and ordered that waterer from Premier 1 Supplies. It says it should be here in 4-5 days. It's supposed to warm up above freezing tomorrow through Tuesday but hopefully it will be here before Wednesday when it dips back down. If not Ill just have to keep changing out their water a few times a day. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[gtaus]

I don't really like the open water bowls, the chickens make a mess out of it pretty quickly.

I just want something I can grab easily without spilling, take inside, clean and fill it, and take it back outside without spilling. It'd be really great if I can quickly and easily top it off without taking it inside.

Inspired by your negative review of the water fount that did not work, I posted a positive review on my setup which I am very happy with: Winter Waterer Success at -17F

It's just the old fashioned Little Giant metal 3 gallon water fount with a metal base heater. However, it fulfills all your requirements. The metal fount is easy to carry with little or no spilling of water. The double wall system allows you to take off the outside shell, and carry the inside container to your water source, fill it up, and take it back outside without spilling any water. This is because water will not flow until you put the outer shell back on it. The outer shell pushes in a rubber grommet which only then allows water to flow into the fount. When the outer shell is taken off, the metal fount is like a 3 gallon pail. I usually give my fount a little scrub, if needed, when I refill the container. Very easy.

If you want to top off the waterer without taking it inside, you simply remove the outer shell and refill the inside container. Then you put the outer shell back on. So if you have a bucket to carry water out to your coop, or if you have a water hose going out to your coop, that would be an easy way to refill your waterer.

I will admit that I tend to prefer old fashioned, time tested designs over some of the newer, more flashy products that are available.

 

[Sea Wolf]

How about drilling/cutting a hole in the top for easier filling ?

You can't. The water is held in by a suction vacuum.