Need advice for best ready to buy, no assembly required waterer

[kathyAtABetterWayFarm]

Chickens for three years now. Tried too many of the standard 5 gallon red and white plastic chicken waterers, it doesn't take long for their seals on the screw top lid to go and then the water just runs over on the bottom. Tried the all metal one, which was great in the winter because we could put it on a warmer and it did keep the water from freezing, but this "galvanized" metal waterer rusted within a month and continued to get worse and worse. Even after washing it out really good, the new "fresh" water gets rusty right away, and the chickens actually won't drink it!

I don't want to make one, I just want to buy one. I want to buy one that will actually last! I need something that will hold three gallons. It can hold more, but I just won't fill it up more than three gallons. In the summer they need three gallons a day and I can't carry more than three gallons from where I get the water to the chicken house. Running a water line to the chicken house is not an option.

Can you please suggest what your TRIED AND TRUE ready to go, no assembly required waterers are? Please let me know how long the waterer you're suggesting has been in service for you! ;o) Then also please let me know where online I can purchase the waterer.

THANK YOU BYC peeps!
Kathy

 

[BellevueOmlet]

You can buy waterer cups on a line that connect to a 5 gal. bucket. There is some assembly required but not much, just pushing some pipes together or connecting a hose and mounting them in the coop. It is what I use and all of my friends are on. It is low maintenance and what I like the best.

 

[elmo]

This is one of the ones I use (going on two years now)

http://www.randallburkey.com/Gallon-Waterer-W_-Snap-On-Base/productinfo/4476/

It doesn't leak, but you do have to be careful not to pick it up by grabbing only onto the base because as you flip it up you can sometimes disconnect the base from the top and spill the water. I have one of the "screw on" types and I don't care for it much, either, although it doesn't leak. It's just fiddly to make sure you screw the top on properly.

The other waterers I have are snap on kinds no longer sold by Randall Burkey. I actually like these the best. They don't leak, and the bases are easy to snap on the tops (no twisting or screwing required).

I only use the gallon models, though. I have one waterer set up in the run and one in the coop. I wonder if the weight of the water in a 3 or 5 gallon model might make the unit more prone to leaking? You might consider using two smaller waterers and see if that helps any.

Good luck!

 

[reereechickens]

Quote:
Can you PLEASE show a picture?

 

[BellevueOmlet]

I prefer nipples and water cups becaus ethey do not take up so much space and are much easier to refil than the gallon style models. Plus those big waterers tend to quickly grow green muck and need to be cleaned out a lot. They work fine but are higher maintenance than I like.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

In warm weather, I also just use 5qt. bowls out in the yard. They're easy to dump, easy to wipe clean and easy to fill. Some people just use small buckets. In the winter, I use standard waterers, since they need to be heated.

 

[gavinandallison]

I use Folger's coffee containers around my hen run..... easy to empty and refill, the birds like them (coloured red), and they are reusable!

 

[kathyAtABetterWayFarm]

hmmmm... you guys got me thinking now!

Thank you!!! All very good suggestions! Maybe I'll try a few and just see which one ends up being best for me. ;o)

THANKS!

 

[LadyinRed]

A couple of big rubber tubs is what I use. The girls like to stand in the water on hot days to cool them down a bit. I've also seen them lay up against the tubs.