Metal Water Fount- What am I doing Wrong?

[AlienChick]

We have one that is metal and we love it.

You must have it level and you must latch it and turn it slightly till it stops on that peg.

It then gets pressurized so it shouldn't leak.

Of course, if you have a faulty unit, anything could happen.

Also, if it is the metal 2-piece unit, you cannot hang it when it's full.

 

[serenityNH]

It is definitely level, I even used a level to make sure and it was perfect! I ended up taking it back and exchanging it for a new one. I think something was wrong with it? I'll set the new one up tonight

Kind of funny... When I was coming out of TSC tonight some guy was walking by me and said "you don't want that water fountain, the plastic ones are the way to go. That won't last you more than a few months". Just found it ironic that some stranger said that to me after all the trouble I've been having, ha!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I also bought one of those metal ones. Made in China, at least mine was. It leaked no matter what. Ugh!! Went back to plastic model. Too bad. Really wanted one of the metal ones. Maybe I'll try another, from someone else, sometime.

 

[serenityNH]

Fred's Hens :

I also bought one of those metal ones. Made in China, at least mine was. It leaked no matter what. Ugh!! Went back to plastic model. Too bad. Really wanted one of the metal ones. Maybe I'll try another, from someone else, sometime.

Yes, made in China alright!!!

My new one seems to be working

There must have been something wrong with the other one? While I was filling it the water would leak out and overflow before I could even get the top on. This new one didn't do that, while I was filling it only a little bit of water seeped out and I was able to carry it several feet and get the top on and it still didn't over flow. I'm leaving it outside on a level surface just to make sure, don't feel like waking up to a soaked coop again

Unless this one works miracles I think the next one will be plastic and NOT from TSC or made in China

Thanks for all the help everyone, appreciate it!

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

We have both kinds. We started out with the plastic one but discovered we needed the metal one in the winter. DH built a warmer base that works like a charm to keep the water from freezing in the winter but it must be the metal waterer on it.

 

[jtbrown]

I had a metal one, I would get it level, do well, then 2 days later find out it suddenly leaked spontaneously into shavings, aaahhhh. I was so frustrated, really shouldn't have let myself get that mad over a Waterer but it really made a mess, inconsistently at that. I bought a 5 and 3 gallon plastic jobbie has a seal on top that screws on and this cap that you put on to make carrying from house to coop easy without spilling, remove it and water flows. I haven't made it through a winter, so I don't know how that will be. But I like it in the 2 months I have had it, no leakage, seems sturdy.

 

[andalusn]

Quote:
Both types have issues. I have the metal and different sized plastic ones as you describe. The newest 3 gallon plastic just let the water drain right out. I kept fiddling with the seal and it just was not consistent. More often than not I would set it and watch it fill after removing he outlet cover and then just keep going. I figured I would try one last time before ditching it.. bought a new seal ring and put that on and its been okay since. These type of water dispensers are in my grow out pens where the younger birds don't free range.

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, if given the choice my free ranging birds will seek water on their own from the blue dog bowl which can be plugged in. They have a regular water fount (plastic) by the layer feed but use the blue bowl and a small gallon sized grain bucket that I keep topped off at the barn entrance. When it comes to freezing temps the plastic freeze rock solid as do the metal and most heater pans don't note that they are appropriate for plastic. I did see a plastic chicken one offered at the feed store that is about 3 gallon size and can be plugged in but I find the dog bowl the easiest to fill and they stand around it like office exec at the cooler and drink.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Unless they vary by region if that metal double-wall fount came from Tractor Supply it's probably a Harris Farm brand. They went over to that one from the Little Giants they used to sell and frankly I do not find them to be well made at all. At all. I'm not surprised yours would leak because they do not put the same quality into making sure the seams are tight. Nor does the metal seem to be of the same thickness as the older Little Giants I have. I bought one, looked at many others, then went and found another place to buy waterers from where I could still get Little Giant. I use a lot of those things so it's important to me.