What feeders and waterers do y'all use?

[theuglychick]

My feeders and waterers are relatively new, about 1.5 years old, but they're falling apart.

I have a few heritage farms metal bucket style feeders from TSC and some plastic hen hydrator 3 gallon bucket style waterers from TSC with the nipples attached.

None of this is out in the elements but my waterers are already dry rotting and the springs in my feeders where the little "arms" attach the bottom pan to the top bucket keep breaking. My life is starting to resemble an infomercial when it comes time to refilling.

What do y'all recommend that will last me at least a couple of years?

 

[BantyChooks]

I might have to switch to just pans. Do you have issue with fire ants when putting food directly on the ground? Also, it rains frequently here so food would be in mud a lot of the time.

When you say duck pools do you mean like kiddie pools? That's an idea but also potential mosquito breeding ground

No fire ant problems. What I do is just give them as much food as they'll eat in a few hours and then feed them the same in the afternoon. I want them slightly hungry since they'd be the most helpful eating bugs and weeds.

Just staying with winter arrangement all the time would likely work best for you. Yes, kiddie pools, and I empty them daily. Also, I have ducks, so the water isn't left undisturbed for long at all & any potential landers will probably be turned into a snack.

 

[blackdog043]

5 gallon waterer with gamma lid and horizontal water nipples (amazon for the nipples)

5 gallon no waste feeder

 

[hlhutchinson]

There a hole in my bucket dear Liza dear Liza. Well fix it dear Henry dear Henry
lol
This is what I have

Works great you can get it in s 5 gal bucket, if I were to do it again I would just order the horizontal nipples and but a bucket and make it my self. As for long term use I don't know yet this is my first goround, with this waters I don't have any leaks and in winter I plan on putting a de over in it

This is for our feed

It is pvc, feed stays clean has a cap on top, easy to refill chickens spill some feed but not a ton they are good at eating it from off the ground

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

 

[BantyChooks]

I use a 1 gallon feed pan for water and food in winter. In summer, I toss food on the ground and have duck pools out for water.

They last a long time. I have owned chickens for 4ish years and I've used the same pans that were used for many years before I took over the birds from my neighbour.

 

[jreardon1918]

We built a a PVC feeder. It is 3" x 3'. Some day I will attach a larger piece at the top to expand its capacity. This holds about three days of feed for 7 chickens. It has an end cap on the top to prevent water getting in. The bottom is a 6" end cap. The chicks have to bend their heads down in and they waste very little. Note the picture shows no waste feed on the ground. The water bucket has three horizontal nipples. No drips. I clean the bucket out every two weeks.

 

[aart]

Used and built many different feeders and waterers,
these are what works best for me in my coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder.67218/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples.67256/

....and for crates:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nipple-waterer-for-wire-crates-by-aart.72704/

....and as an extra in coop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/2-nipple-quart-water-bottle-holder.67773/

 

[Birdinhand]

When training to nipples all other water sources should be removed.

I would second that! chickens have poor night vision but excellent color vision and that red stands out. it takes an initial phase of them getting thirsty and then boom, they start pecking at the red nipples and start noticing the glorious consistency of cool clear water. as soon as you add back water dishes, you will see them gather round and drink frantically, just like if you add a new kind of food. I think they prefer drinking from a dish but they don't understand biology so they don't appreciate the value of clean water but as their caretakers we very much appreciate them being healthier and the waterers requiring a lot less cleaning out.

 

[Chickassan]

Dog feeder and waterer, dog died years ago so i just recycled. Nobody tell the chickens they aren't all named biscuit.