Do chickens drink less in winter?

[ckeene1990]

This is my first winter with chickens, I have switched them from cup waterer to a heated nipple kind. I have also moved their food and water inside as sometimes they spend all day in their coop. I noticed they have drastically reduced their water intake since the switch, they seem to be doing fine, but I’m surprised how little they are drinking, is this normal?

 

[Debbie292d]

They'll eat snow, so that could be causing it. Otherwise, not sure why if nothing else changed. We have always had a 5-gallon nipple bucket in the coop. We keep the coop from freezing so it's good for about a month.

 

[AGeese]

Mine won't go out in the snow. Do they know how to use the nipple waterers? Mine drink up well during the winter. They drink and eat less if they're trying to stay warm, but in order to regulate their body temps, they need access to food and water.

 

[aart]

This is my first winter with chickens, I have switched them from cup waterer to a heated nipple kind. I have also moved their food and water inside as sometimes they spend all day in their coop. I noticed they have drastically reduced their water intake since the switch, they seem to be doing fine, but I’m surprised how little they are drinking, is this normal?

What kind of nipples, horizontal(sides of vessel) or vertical(bottom of vessel)?
Both kinds take some getting used to before they are fully adept at using them. Best to make the change to nipples during mild weather to reduce the risk of dehydration.

 

[TooCheep]

This is my first winter with chickens, I have switched them from cup waterer to a heated nipple kind. I have also moved their food and water inside as sometimes they spend all day in their coop. I noticed they have drastically reduced their water intake since the switch, they seem to be doing fine, but I’m surprised how little they are drinking, is this normal?

My primary waterer is a heated bucket with horizontal nipples which doesn't freeze even down to -10F. Easy to test that they are working properly. Just press the metal "tongue" and verify that water is dripping out easily. That said, it is like drinking through a thin straw all day for the chickens. Rather restrictive and they take a lot of time to get their fill.

I put out an open container of water once/day even in the coldest weather. They definitely prefer to drink out of the open containers (or open puddles) and they'll all spend some time there before it freezes.

 

[ChookaPete]

Yes they drink less water during the cooler part of the year.

 

[Mrs. K]

Quite a bit less, than when the temperature is near 100.