Harris Farms Poultry Drinker EZ Fill, 6.25 gallon

So much easier to fill than the screw-top tanks that use suction to hold the water in.Also, last one of that _other_ screw-top style broke after just a year due to the force needed to unscrew it (after a year of sunshine weakening the plastic, admittedly)._This_ style of water container (this product) doesn't use any suction, so the lid just rests on top and pops off without too much force (chickens can't open it), making it last quite a bit longer than other types (I bought one of this style back when I purchased the other screw-top type, at a Tractor Supply store.) Now both of my water containers are of this type. Makes refilling my chickens' water so much easier.Sometimes the last inch or so of the water doesn't dispense, btw, so don't wait until it's completely empty to refill it.Make sure you still have a water heating pad if the temperature drops below 32°F where you are; ice will still freeze the outlet, just like a screw-top style.

Just to establish that I know a thing or two about poultry founts, I've been raising chickens for over 25 years in addition to the fowl menagerie we had growing up on a farm. I've used just about every fount imaginable. Galvanized lose their ability to hold vacuum with any kind of dent or when they inevitably become rusty. The worst are the large plastic founts that work by vacuum alone, especially the ones that require the lid to be twisted on super tight in order to create vacuum. They won't unscrew without the jaws of life. The second worst are the ones that require you to fill the upside down bucket, put on the base, and turn it over. You lose much of the water and you get wet no matter what way you try to do to avoid it. All founts that rely on vacuum are disgusting. Chickens defecate in their water which gets sucked up into the clean water on vacuum waterers, requiring daily dumping and refilling, almost making the idea of an automatic waterer pointless.I have been using the Harris Farms (owned by Manna Pro - for those that know the name from livestock feed) waterer for 4 years and just ordered a second one. There are a number of things that make this the best waterer ever, however, it is finicky. I am shocked at the number of negative reviews, so I'll address the problems one might have first.Honestly, if you have trouble figuring out that the nipple on the float needs to fit into the corresponding recess in the bucket, this might not be the waterer for you. The tub needs to be secured tightly to the base, otherwise it will all leak out. It matters which direction the plastic screw and nut go (the assembly instructions shows you). You only have to do this when assembling it, which you'll rarely need to do because, outside of a float problem, you never need to disassemble it. Getting one hand into the bottom of the deep bucket while keeping the other hand at the bottom of the base can be tricky, but again, a tight connection is paramount. That red cap that sits on the nipple in the bucket needs to be taken off so that the waterer works. You don't really need that red cap. I just leave it sitting (floating) in the bucket. Every once in a while (like maybe once/yr), enough water would seep into the float to not allow it to rise and shut off the water supply. When this happens, the water will all flood out. You can check if there's water in the float by shaking it. Unsnap the two sections of the float, drain the water, and snap back together. Fixes the problem until the next time, or do what I eventually did, which is fill the float body with a $5 can of expanding foam and snap the lid back on. If you don't have a good feel for how much the foam will expand, it would be a good idea to drill some holes in the top of the float to allow excess foam room to escape. Once the foam is dry in a few hours, the excess is easily cut off with a serrated knife or fine toothed saw. The foam might distort the float as it expands if you put too much in without having the holes. The foam is 100% waterproof when dry, so the now foam-filled drilled holes will not effect float performance. Water infiltration into the float is the only real weak point to this fount, and yes, the manufacturer should put styrofoam in to begin with, however, it is still, hands down, the best fount ever!Now, on to why this deserves 5 stars! No more crappy water! The float mechanism does not allow dirty water to be mixed back in with the clean water. The tray is much larger than most trays and, because the inside is rounded vs. angular, there are no crevices to clean out. Cleaning this thing is a breeze. The lid comes off and on easily. At 6 gallons, this holds a lot of water, and because the fresh water remains fresh, I feel okay about filling it and forgetting it. I have had no problems with the waterer on a galvanized heated base (upstate NY temperatures). The water at the top of the bucket will freeze, but the area at the bottom remains liquified. Lastly, I rarely ever keep this thing perfectly level and it does not overflow. I'd say that if it's overflowing, it may have nothing to do with being level (within reason) and is more likely is related to one of the aforementioned possible oversights or float problems.

I have had chickens for many years and tried about every waterer on the market. This one by far is the BEST and the only one I will ever buy again. I love it so much that I ended up buying one for my bonus daughter after she was pet sitting and saw how nice it was. So easy to fill, I just use a watering can to haul water to the barn. No more hauling a messy water container. No more containers that come apart when hauling and full of water (soaking my pants and shoes). Simple to clean, works well also with the Harris Farms heater in the winter. Can not say enough good about this product.

I recently embarked on a poultry-care adventure, armed with the latest in chicken hydration technology—a fancy chicken waterer, complete with what I assumed was an all-access lid pass. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the lid was missing, presumably living its best life in a parallel universe where chicken waterer lids roam free.This isn't just about hydration; it's about dignity. Without the lid, my feathered friends treat the waterer like their personal spa, complete with unsolicited contributions that would make a sailor blush. The product promised a lid, a simple yet crucial component, akin to socks in winter or ketchup with fries. Its absence has turned what should be a watering hole into a free-for-all pool party, minus the fun and with a significant health code violation.I noticed a chorus of fellow chicken enthusiasts echoing my plight in the reviews. It seems we're all part of an exclusive club that nobody wanted to join—the lidless chicken waterer owners. It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as online shopping.Alas, reaching out to the manufacturer through Amazon is like trying to explain WiFi to a chicken—futile. The only solution offered is to send back the entire ensemble, in the hope that the replacement includes the elusive lid. It's a leap of faith I'm not sure I'm prepared to make, akin to expecting my chickens to start paying rent.In conclusion, while the chicken waterer sans lid has united us in shared dismay (and provided an unexpected biology lesson), I dream of a day when our feathered wards can drink without turning their water into a questionable soup. Dear manufacturer, let's make that dream a reality. Until then, potential buyers, beware the lidless wonder—it's a poultry tale you don't want to be part of.

OK so read the reviews! I bought this waterer because of one review. if you look hard enough you will find it from her. She nailed it! This is the best chicken water feeder ever! I suffered all her pain and grief till i bought this waterer. NO CRAP HERE! it actually works like its advertised! if you have chickens, this is the answer! I Wish I was getting paid to promote this! take it for what it is but i don't write reviews unless I'm seriously stunned! great product, read and follow the instructions. Its a home run!

Saw this in a video where a large chicken breeder was using this, they loved it so thought i would give it a try. Sooooo nice and easy to use. Make sure the gasket is snug in the bottom and will not leak. Fill from the top and works great for raising young chickens.

Great product. Consistently feeds clean water to birds. Easy to fill and no flipping over or screwing anything in!!

Easy to fill. Easy to clean. Works perfectly!!

Little pricey for my taste but has been worth itEasy to use and durable.