water in the coop overnight?

[Gwen]

Do chickens need water overnight? It would seem not. I'd prefer to keep the waterer outside as they keep knocking it over.

I am going to order one of those avian mister kits, but I'd still prefer to have the water outside.

Also, my tractor setup doesn't have a whole lot of room for inside waterers and feeders right now.

 

[tomato lady]

I am not sure when they are drinking, but from the time I put my chickens in at night until the next morning the water line goes down quite a bit in my two water containers. I would be uncomfortable locking them in my coop overnight without water.

 

[helloroe]

We have a waterer inside and outside. Ours do drink at night. I always have to refresh it at bedtime. Depending on your tractor, you might want to look at some of the small ones that hook to the wall like a rabbit waterer? Takes no floor room. We have a 1/2 gal (small) one inside and it does not take much floor room. Then I have a gal one hanging in the run for daytime.

 

[vnploveschickens]

We also keep a waterer inside and outside. There are so many different types of waterers available. You might want to find a smaller sturdy type that works in your tractor. Chickens should always have water available.

 

[AmyBella]

Hmmm, my girls get closed into the top part of the tractor with no water and they have been just fine. They go up about 8pm and are let out at 6:30am. Space is an issue for me too, and there are no windows. I doubt they could find water in the dark even if I put it there!

 

[trilyn]

Hey Gwen, instead of shelling big bucks out for the avian aqua miser, check out my byc page. Kind of the same thing, but a heck of a lot cheaper! Just a thought.

 

[Judy]

I'd say it depends how early you let them out. Remember they are up at the crack of dawn, and they wake up thirsty.

 

[Gwen]

Trilyn, I just got the 'kit' which was only $15 and comes with a few nipples and detailed instructions. I just seemed easier to me. On some of the sites that sell nipples, they show more than one and I didn't know which to choose, etc.

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
That'll work! Now that you've gotten the kit and are in the "know", you'll be able to purchase elsewhere for cheaper. Congratulations-I know you'll enjoy using this type of a system. It's cleaner, easier and I think it's more beneficial for the chickens to have fresh clean water available. I know they'll drink out of mud puddles and their own poopy water, but still. Ick!

 

[MagsC]

I usually go to bed quite late and get up early so generally dont leave water in overnight after they are a bit older.