How big of a space do chickens need for their beaks in a waterer?

[mshirk]

I ask because I have the teeny tiny chick waterer bottom, where I screw on a jar on top. The gap is very small, maybe 1/2" for them to drink out of. At any rate, it works well (chicks are 5 weeks) and fits nicely in my coop, and don't want to move to a larger size bottom if I don't have to (gets more bedding in it, spills more easily, doesn't fit as easily).

Thing is, I'm not sure how chickens actually drink. Do they sip with the tip of the beak, or get their whole beak in to scoop up the water? As my chicks' beaks become adult size, can they still use the tiny chick waterer bottom?

 

[austinandkara]

I would say that the space would need to be bigger--more like 1.5-2 inches. As far as the bedding getting in the waterer we got one of those livestock feed bowls, they are black rubber material, and we turned it over and put the waterer on that.