Vent: Beyond irritated with Little Giant products.

[Yogiman]

I'm not sure that I understand exactly which Little Giant waterer you are using or referring to. I use the one pictured here and refuse to use anything else. They have worked really well for me even in freezing weather. I plumbed them with PVC pipe and insulated it. They are virtually trouble free. Parts are readily available for them if needed. After 5 years I have not had a need for parts. I mounted mine about 12 inches above floor level and the hens have not had a problem with them at all.
I hope you get your problem resolved soon.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

I've never had a problem with little giant products.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Quote:
I use 2 of these too. Both are 3 gallon, but I find them to be really heavy for me to haul out to the coop all the time. I wish they had a 2 gallon version.

 

[hiddenmagnolia]

picked up some small dog waterers from walmart they hookup to a hose. Small enough to wash out daily without making a mess. And birds don't have enough room to wade or drown in them.

 

[flip9109]

Quote:
I use 2 of these too. Both are 3 gallon, but I find them to be really heavy for me to haul out to the coop all the time. I wish they had a 2 gallon version.

the great thing about this style is that you have to move it to fill it. I bring the water to it.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Gotta just love to pop out the ice chunks in the morning. Had a dozen ice cubes at the end of a cold spell here.

 

[Arklady]

I used the 1 and a half gallon waterers for my chicken tractors. It's only for like 3 standards or 6 bantams. It has to be changed about every 2 days or so. Depending on the weather of course. My problem is their change in the design going to a cheaper thinner and smaller top for the water founts. (the base is still the same)

Unfortunately the bottoms don't work as well with the lighter weight but smaller founts. They only hold about 1 gallon so not only has the tops come off while carrying them. We have gotten soaking wet while putting them in the tractors and cages because of the bottom coming off. IE they don't fit. The lighter ones also don't hold as much water which means I have to buy more and for a chicken tractor adding more than one is a pain if you don't want your chickens to escape. Which they have done.

When the bottom comes off sometimes you break the bottom, mostly just a crack but its bad because then it leaks. I continue to use them but I don't like it because I have to refill them more often.

It was the high cost of the 7 gallon waterers that made me get a 50gal water barrel so I could water my birds that had the largest pen I sometimes use it for putting in birds I don't care who they are with.

That worked great and had no trouble using that, after putting on a gate valve.

But chicken tractors are too small for those so i am looking for a better way to give my birds water so that I don't have to ask my kids to help me.

Arklady

 

[MandyH]

You can type in Beacon feeder and Beacon waterer on ebay and see the ones I am talking about.

 

[MBLayfield]

Quote:
I use these too. I hung mine from the rafters in the coop so they hang about 8 inches off of the ground. I bought dog tie out chain and attached two 6 inch pieces to the cap with s hooks. I also hung the dog chain off the rafters. I squeezed the s hooks at one end so that it stays on the 6 inch piece of chain wrapped around the handle. The s hooks don't come off the handle but detach from the chain that hangs from the rafters so it makes filling easy. (did any of that make sense?

) Hanging it keeps the water cleaner with the ducks and the chickens can't kick the straw and shavings into it. I've got three now and I don't think I'll be switching until I can put in a gravity fed watering system.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
You have a problem changing the water every couple of days? They should have fresh water.