Do Chickens Need a Waterer in the Coop?

[mylilchix]

I was a little late going out to the coop this morning (normally I'm there around 6:30am and today I slept in and got out there around 7:45am). When I got in there to feed them I discovered that they tipped their waterer. I have it on a stand, but I think someone was roosting on it and knocked it off. I can't put a hanging feeder in the coop because the coop isn't 100% level (oops!), so when I try one in there it just spills. Do the chickens need water in the coop or is there something else I can put coop for them? They do have a 3 gallon waterer in the run, and I can take the 1 gallon waterer I had in the coop and put it out there too.

Thanks,
Sonja

 

[Dar]

they need acess to water at all times....i would put the bigger waterer in the coop...i have 10 gals and i have a 10 Gallon waterer that is heavy enough that if they were to roost on it they cant knock it over....how about making like a tee pee type set uo to deter them from roosting on it...use 3 pieces of wood so that the spaces are big enough for them to get in to take a drink....and just lift it off the top of tee pee for cleaning....just a ramdom brainstorm...

 

[JessicaGrant]

I have a rabbit water bottle in the coop. They have all learned to use it and it keeps the spilling to a minimum. I don't know what I will do in the winter but it works well for now.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

My new coop is not level (is on a slope, with a slightly sloped roof) so I HAVE to have a hanging waterer in there.

I hang it off a hook on the ceiling on a chain and gravity makes it hang straight. It doesn't "look" straight, LOL but it is.

If for some reason that still won't work, then yeah, I'd get a larger one that they can't tip over.

Peace -
Meriah

 

[sunnydee]

In my homemade coop, my hanging waterer and hanging feeding are the only things that ARE straight!

 

[patandchickens]

Hang a plastic trashcan lid just above the waterer (suspended from ceiling on rope) to prevent them from trying to hop onto the waterer and tipping it over.

I would not want my chickens to go without water for longer than dead-pitch-black evening to first light of dawn (they have water 24/7 in the coop), especially not in hot weather. It takes surprisingly little dehydration (whcih can come on surprisingly fast) to mess up their egg production, which I expect reflects a bunch of other undesirable health effects as well, even if they're less visible.

Pat

 

[heyjami]

My girls have a coop that's open to an outside run. Are you suggesting that I must have water inside the coop? We've only had it on the outside porch area and they seem to be accessing it fine.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
As long as they can access it, you're fine. I keep mine outside in the run, but I leave the chicken door open all the time. The only time the water is inside is in the winter, because I close the door at night and it is warmer (to keep it fromf reezing).

Peace -
Meriah