The 3 gallon one in question is definitely a flawed design. I was given two with a huge food order. The bottom plug isn't the problem. It stays in well. The biggest problem, in addition to it needing to be perfectly level is that the tabs holding top and bottom together are too short and narrow. The torque from turning it over will open it up. I've had 3 gallons go down my shoes on multiple occasions at 0F.At 8 lb/gal I think even this old man can handle it. If not, I'm going to have to start buying feed in 5lb bags instead of 50's.
I believe I saw that it fills through a bung in the bottom? Ever had the water pressure blow it out, or is it threaded?
I've perfected the art of quickly flipping similar containers w/o getting soaked...most of the time, so that's not a problem, either.
I only use them in emergencies.
On the plus side, as long as power is maintained they work well (if they don't come apart). I had one hanging in a tree all winter once and it never failed. On the other hand, if you lose power, and the water tray freezes, it doesn't get warm enough to thaw the water in the ring once frozen.
I do like it for roosters though so they can't dip their wattles in the water. If using something like a heated dog dish, the roosters get their wattles frozen.
Move them at night into a nest set up just like the other. You can move them as far as you want. I heat some fake eggs for the new nest so she thinks I picked her up and set her back down. After she's comfortable, I swap the eggs.everytime I moved a broody too far she stopped brooding. wait until after is my suggestion! if you have to put a quick ring of wire around her, she should protect the chicks later on.
...
I once moved a hen from a pine shaving nest to a plastic nest pad and she stopped immediately.
