Do I have a big enough waterer for my chickens

[Lady Ressler]

I bought a waterer that says it is good enough for 25 chickens and I am assuming that that is enough to last 25 FULL GROWN birds for the WHOLE day right? I believe it is a 1 gal size waterer.

Well, I have 9 chickens about 2 months old, and some small quail. I will come out to shut the coop up at the end of the day and the waterer is almost completely empty. Am I doing something wrong? I have the water hanging from a 2x4 off the ground at back height. When I look at the ground around the waterer, there isn't a wet mess at all. It is completely dry.

I have been thinking about switching to a 5 gal bucket with nipple watering set up.

Help please. It hasn't gotten to be more than 80 degrees or so yet and I am really worried about the days when it will be much hotter. I don't think they are gonna have enough water when it does get that hot.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

If your worried I would either get a bigger container or have two waterers.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I like having multiple water devices, especially in the summer. 25 full sized birds will drink much, much more than a 1 gal waterer can provide.

I like 2 1/2 gallon size (easier to lug). I'd likely have at least two that size, for 25 birds, one for your 9 birds, but I'd also have a couple of a gallon buckets to set out as well in the run area. The adults love to drink out of a small, shallow pail or even a re-purposed small bird bath dish set on a shorter platform. Not so safe for small chicks though.

 

[ONSTAD1]

I'm planning on getting 4-5 chickens...how big of a waterer should i start out with?


Mo

 

[Jennmom2three]

I have a small blue plastic pool from Walmart, it's on it's 2nd summer!! I never worry bout water

 

[lokua]

I have a one gallon waterer for my 6 girls and now that its hot its just barely enough. In the cold weather it would last 3 days no problem but now I refill it every day. They go through about a pint of water per bird every day.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

Bigger is always better - except when it isn't.

I always prefer to have more water available for my chickens than I feel I need but on the other side, do not like taking any space away from them in their run. I moved all of my water source buckets out of the coop and run and route them in with pvc and tubing. They conenct up to waterer cups that take up very little space.

If you use two 5 gallon buckets, you would only need to replace your water about once per month with a flock of 4-5 birds. The water is sealed in the buckets so it stays fresh and clean.

 

[Lady Ressler]

I supose I should write a reply not only to thank you all but also to tell you that I broke down and just bout a 5 gallon waterer. It definetly took up a lot of space in the coop but it kept the girls suplied with their water. We have recently moved so now they are in a coop off the side of a barn for winter but also because they need to relearn where home is.

While on the winter topic. What is the best way to keep water thawed in the winter? I live in North Dakota so tempratures can get pretty cold around here. I have standard size chickens and bantams (including silkies) and I am trying to figure out a water system for keeping it #1. Warm, #2. Clean and #3. Accesable for all the birds.

Here we go again. Any suggestions.

Oh, and thank you for all the ones you have given already.

 

[Lady Ressler]

I am wondering how much skill a person has to have to build this waterer? Also how long did it take and how much did it cost? One more question, how does this work in the cold winter months? Being in the state of North Dakota creates another issue besides my already existing problems.

Thank you for your time.

 

[7L Farm]

I have multiple waterers in all my coops I can't take a chance & let them run out of water its too hot here.You just never know if one waterer will leak out are something goes wrong. I have a flock of 16 hens & one roo that will drink over a gallon of water in one day during the summer. About 2 gallons to be safe.