There is a problem with this drinker, I’m disappointed to report a major design flaw that needs to be addressed. I used this drinker for about a week and kept finding the tank full and the tray dry. This is a death sentence in Phoenix where temps are 110+. There isn’t a vent in the cover, causing a vacuum and therefore a stoppage of water flow. I drilled a couple of holes in the lid and now it’s working nicely.
I thought the Free Range Easy Fill Drinker was a good choice for our farm because it held 3.5 gallons of water, keeping it cooler longer when the temps are extreme. For the price, I expected more, and now it’s up $10+ dollars!
I won’t tell you not to buy this drinker, but be prepared to drill a few holes in the cover or you’ll find your birds without water.
FYI: I’ve contacted the manufacturer about this problem.
My Pet Chicken is one, if not the only one who ships sexed Silkie Bantams and Millie Fleurs. They also are a hatchery that ships only a few birds, they definitely deserve points for that. My Pet Chicken is high on my list of choices for Ornamental chicks, and I’ve never had a problem with a baby chick shipment, until now.
Silkie BantamMille Fleur d’UccleBreed of Chicks I ordered
My order of six chicks arrived yesterday, nicely packed with plenty of a straw- like bedding in a nice sturdy box with ample ventilation. They were shipped on Monday and they arrived Tuesday at 2pm, exactly what I expected.
Unfortunately they were not handled with care either by the airlines or USPS, one Silkie was dead, one Silkie and a Mille Fleur had broken legs. I was devastated. I’ve mail ordered chicks many times over the last fifteen years with at least a 95% success rate. I definitely wasn’t expecting to have any problems of this magnitude.
Unfortunately, I had to cull the injured chicks, and I must say, even though I’ve had my share of unpleasant tasks over the years having chickens… it was still traumatizing. It’s done, I’m over it, and focusing on my three healthy fuzzy butt chicks.
How Did My Pet Chicken Handle the Situation?
I called My Pet Chicken informing them of the poor arrival of my chicks. I didn’t know what I was expecting… after all, it wasn’t their fault this happened. Nevertheless, maybe I just needed to vent. So glad I called, customer service was beyond nice, genuinely compassionate, and to my surprise, offered to send me replacement chicks or a refund for the 3 chicks lost. If that’s not customer satisfaction I don’t know what is. My Pet Chicken gets an A+ from me. 🙂
Does your flock need a boredom breaker? I think this might be it! Looks like fun, and certainly would be entertaining to watch. Pretty sure even I could hang it. If your like me, installing anything is a challenge, but this seems girl friendly!
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 