Harris Farms Chicken Waterer - Galvanized Steel - Double Wall Poultry Drinker - 2 Gallon

I ordered this chicken waterer on September 29, 2023. Today is August 5, 2024. It held only water and never used any chemicals to clean it. Used a toilet brush to clean the outside as I do with all my metal waterers. I purchased two of them and now stuck with these pieces of crap. I would give zero stars if possible but gave 5 so it gets the attention it deserves.

I've always a little hesitant to buy non-prime products. However, in this case I'm glad I pulled the trigger and ordered this waterer.About a year and a half ago I ordered one of the plastic waterers for my chickens. It served well but after about a year in the sun the plastic started to degrade. Every time I'd fill it some more of the waterer would break off. Finally last week it took its last breath and basically fell apart in my hands when I was filling it.Over the last few months I've gone to Tractor Supply looking for a good quality metal waterer. They have a few metal feeders, but no waterer that would work. There's also no metal waterers with prime shipping. So I went ahead and purchased this one.The product actually came faster than the estimated delivery date. UPS just dropped it off. It's exactly what I was looking for. It's thick galvanized metal and this thing is sturdy. I just filled it up with water and my chickens were happy. I'm glad that the metal is not transparent so that should help eliminate the algae problem that I had with my plastic feeder. It's also double wall insulated so that should help keep the water cooler. I expect the shiny surface to also reflect some of the sun to help keep the water cooler.In sum, glad I ordered it and it's definitely a high quality product.

The succinct review is "junk". The more detailed review is we started keeping a flock in spring 21 and use a 5 gallon bucket with the water nipples during the warmer months which works great. Here in W. PA we get freezing temperatures starting early November lasting through mid-April so I wired the coop, bought a heating unit and this metal chicken fountain for that period. I bought the unit 1/8/22 and used it until mid-April (about 3 months). By April it was already showing signs of rusting and the water had to be changed daily which largely defeated the purpose of having it in the first place. I started using the chicken waterer again last month (November 22) and same problem. The only reason I bought this unit here was that the local farm/feed store didn't have any in stock otherwise I would have heeded the other 1 star reviews and not purchased this one. I am going to modify and old stainless 5 gallon pot with a couple of 3/8" holes and the water nipples we use in the other months and toss this useless, somewhat expensive, bit of garbage in the recycle bin. To note I have never used anything but water in the unit and the water here is good quality as it comes from a reservoir near Ligonier, PA.

We have 2 of these for my chickens. I've never had a problem. I feel like people that had problems with them don't understand how to use them or the gravity pull wasn't tight. Be sure once turned and latched to 'pull up' on the handle to activate the suction and then release. I bought it thinking you could hang them like the Harris feeders - but in retrospect - it would be a lot of weight to hang and the suction wouldn't be able to work - water would just keep coming out. I fixed this by placing it on a brick (helps keep the water clean). I love this waterer the PROS definitely out way the CONS. PROS: I can see at-a-glance if there is water; easy to empty a little water out every day for fresh water; inside water stays clean; plenty of water on the outside for multiple chickens; unit itself is easy to clean. CONS: can't hang; once filled could be heavy for someone to carry to coop.

I bought this when my chicks moved into their coop.I did extensive research on different waterer types and drew the conclusion that these simple devices are the best value for the money. Very few points of possible failure or leakage.Beyond easy to use and it just simply works well.The 2 gallon capacity lasts 6 chickens quite a while, to the point I was taking it out more to clean than to just refill it. Now, I have more birds and an additional waterer, but cleaning is the main reason I retreave them for refills (1-2× daily).This style definitely seems to stay the cleanest and be the easiest to keep clean imo, vs the cups. I originally was going to opt for the metal nipple waterers, but those all have poor reviews.Overall my chickens seem to like them, and I enjoy the overall functionality.All of that said, I've taken a star off for corrosion.It's been outside since mid April and it developed rust relatively quick on the inner container.Specifically for an outdoor water dispenser, I was a little surprised at how fast it began to rust. I perhaps should've look into the materials.As I mentioned I have another waterer of this exact type (different brand, from rural king), that hasn't rusted at all.I bought it at the same time that this one went outside, as I got more chicks in the brooder.It has been in and out of the house since April, and has been outside full time for a week. No rust.Seemingly a better product than this so far, but hasn't exactly been as exposed.All-in-all I'm pretty please with this style of waterer and it was decently worth the buy. I do believe there's better examples out there that will do their job without such rapid onset of rust.I will update over time.