Premier 1 Heated Poultry Waterer

I have 2 of these units (older and newer). Initially I loved them.

• During the first winter, water did not freeze in the one located inside the coop. However, water did freeze in the one located in the Run. When I called the company, they said it had to be protected from the elements. They have since updated their website to reflect this requirement.
• The lid freezes and is difficult to remove. I started adding oil oil so it twists easier.
• Plug is tricky to line up correctly to the unit. This is tough, especially in cold weather when you need to detach, clean it, and reattach.

For the amount each unit cost, I expect it to last for many years, not fail after 1 season. I have other nipple waterers, but not heated ones, I was hoping these would be reliable. Unfortunately, that is not the case and I would not recommend this unit.

You may want to read the reviews on the Premier 1 website. Many recent reviews mention frozen water and nipples.
Reviews

I recommend looking at another (cheaper) alternative.

To start, the build quality is fantastic. The walls are thick and the top is insulated. It worked flawlessly down to 15F. I'm guessing the power cord is 8-10ft, so it can actually reach the outlet.

They included a flip top for easy filling, but it's too dark for me to see the current water level (I have a covered run). When you wash the top, you need to remove the single screw and disassemble to be able to dry the interior of the lid. I'm concerned mold is a potential otherwise. Lastly, the included nipples tend to leak. Better to add a small gasket.

The lid is also insulated, which can help to keep the heat inside of the bucket. That being said, you don’t have to worry about your chickens having cold water over time. There’s also a heavy-duty handle to keep the waterer from falling if it’s hung. (best chicken waterer)

We love this waterer, although we have the older model. It's the second winter we've used it in subzero temperatures and this waterer didn't skip a beat! A bit of frost does form along the inside rim from condensation, but it does not hinder its use. We've used both inside and outside the coop with equal results.
Most of my cons have been addressed in the re-design: it now hangs, the cord is detachable for year-round use, and the lid is secure. While it is probably a bit small for large flocks, it's perfect for our flock of 12. I refill once a week using a 1 gallon milk jug. My preference is to bring my waterers into the house to clean once a week or so, but that is not practical given the non-detachable cord and cold temperatures. This sits on a cinder block and is easily accessed by all our birds. Unfortunately, there is a gap between the cinder block and the base of the waterer which a perfect place for mice to stay warm, but that's no fault of the waterer. Also, there is a long bolt that attaches the nob to the lid that has rusted and leaves a film on the water. I don't think this is harmful to the chickens, but I would like to find a way to keep it from further deterioration.
I'm seriously considering ordering the newer model for year-round use.

I previously had my birds on a PVC pipe waterer with vertical nipple. The problem was the nipple would freeze during periods of frost, even though the water inside stayed liquid with a small aquarium heater. I had been planning to buy the previous version of this waterer except it got discontinued, so once this new version came out I ordered it immediately.

Expanding on my PROS: Overall I'm pleased with this waterer and it's doing the job. The built in heater does seem to be working well so far and I have not had any nipples freeze during periods of frost (we reach roughly 20F). I also like that this waterer is fully opaque so that should help slow/stop algae growth in warmer weather by blocking sunlight from the interior. That is something that my PVC waterer did very well so I anticipate this will work the same way as I placed it in the same shady location.

Expanding on my CONS: The lid CAN freeze onto the body of the unit during freezing spells as condensation forms inside the unit, and since it's opaque you must open it to check water levels regularly, so make sure to check it and fill it when you're able to during freezing weather.

Also this unit does not have any sort of opening to prevent a vacuum from forming, which means the lid will become harder to remove and the flow of water to the nipples can become impacted. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND drilling a small hole (I chose a 5/16" drill bit) in the body of the unit close to the rim to prevent this from happening.



And also the true capacity of the waterer is closer to maybe 2.5 gallons. If you add a hole as I recommend, it'll be even less than that.

A final note: Some birds may take a while to get used to the horizontal nipples, which are a little harder to operate on vertical, so do keep an eye on your flock if you're switching from a different type of water source.