Feeder & Drinker Advice

Poultry Product Advice

The truth about durability and life expectancy

Plastic Feeders and Drinkers

Life expectancy: 2 years (variable)
From our experience many of the cheap plastic feeder and drinker options available to small poultry keepers are short lived, crack easily are unattractive and often have inadequately designed and weak fittings and catches that often break off quickly. From our experience they are off a poor build quality, often become brittle within 2 years.  Drinkers break easily if accidentally dropped with water inside and the rubber fittings that maintain the internal vacuum are often short lived and require wetting to ensure the seal is maintained.

I have many times gone out to my chickens to find a drinker that I topped up a few hours earlier has emptied its contents due to the seal letting air into the drinker and releasing the vacuum. Plastic drinkers are also unadvisable when rearing chicks under heat lamps as they become brittle particularly quickly. Also once cracked or broken, repairs are rarely successful. Therefore we no longer entertain the use of most plastic poultry products. 

Lightweight Galvanised Feeders and Drinkers

Life expectancy:6 years (variable)

Far more durable than their plastic competitors, slightly more expensive but life expectancy can be at least twice that of plastic. The two pictures, no.1 and no.2 show minor rusting to light weightgalvanised feed troughs. Corrosion occurs due to cleaning and regular use with poultry and can typically be expected after 3 years of use.

However the strength and durability typically maintains for severally years after the first signs of corrosion are seen. In general these lightweight products are good value, but although rare, breakages due to heavy handed birds or people can occur as shown in the picture no3. The picture shows where the simply riveted frame work has broken. Repairs are possible and theoverall durability will remain.

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Galvanised Feeders and Drinkers

Life expectancy: 20 years + (variable)
Our preferred option, heavy duty galvanised products have proven to be exceptionally long lasting, reliable and better looking. Fittings and catches are simple and of a durable quality, better suited to regular use. The pecking action of poultry has little or no impact on the galvanised surfaces and the feeders and drinkers are not knocked over easily by poultry like plastic ones.

Galvanised products are durable enough to maintain shape and condition if dropped and corrosion does not typically occur for many, many years.