Plastic play balls

[chrismahon]

What have plastic play balls got to do with chickens you may be asking? If you have the bell type drinkers as we have, green plastic, red plastic or glass and they are scattered at distance around the area you will find, unless your eyesight is exceptional, that it is difficult to see which are full and which are empty.

We have had these before, but the old website is now unobtainable. They were on our shopping list for France as the old ones have now faded. As if by magic a net full of them appeared on the kitchen table -"Asda, £4" said my wife. They are plastic air filled flimsy balls about 60mm diameter in 5 different solid colours.

Place some of all the same colour (found 1 ball per 2 litre or part thereof water capacity ideal) in a drinker when you fill it. Important that the colour selected is different to the base of the drinker. You will then find that the level of the drinker can be seen easily at quite a distance, as it appears as a coloured line above the water, even though the bell is opaque. Saves a lot of walking to check drinkers, particularly in Summer, I can assure you! You do lose a little capacity in the drinker but I personnallly think that is a small price to pay for labour saved.

 

[Marigold]

That's a brilliant idea, Chris, - though it would only tell you if the drinker was empty or low, it wouldn't let you know if the water was dirty in the lip because somebody had pooed in it or scratched mess up into it. You'd still need that daily inspection if you wanted to be sure they were drinking clean water.

 

[chrismahon]

You are quite right Marigold. Fortunately the ones who poo in the drinker, the Orpingtons, have the closest one. Of course they are checked night or morning and when they are let out or put back in.

 

[charliefox]

plastic play balls ses it all why dont you devise a float system so as the level drops it raises an arm on the side so as it goes up it indicates the level in the container bit like on a central heating fuel tank or maybe like on an american mail box all the best uncle fox ps if you do remember where you got the idea

 

[chrismahon]

The bell needs to be airtight so that the water stays in Charliefox.