How many waterers for free-rangers?

gritsar

Cows, Chooks & Impys - OH MY!
14 Years
Nov 9, 2007
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SW Arkansas
My chickens can go basically anywhere they want to on 80 acres. So far they haven't strayed further than about 5 acres, give or take.
They have a three gallon waterer on one side of the house and the goat's water bucket on the other side. I know they drink out of the goat's bucket; I've seen them do it regularly. They also steal his food when they have a mind to.
So, do I need to provide a waterer further out? Maybe on the other side of the garden, which would put it about 2 acres away from the house?
 
Not unless you want them to freerange out that far...and why would you? Kind of far from the safety of home, I would think, unless there are no daytime predators where you live. Still, you would have to do some water totin'! Sounds like you have enough waterers. How many chickens we talking about?
 
Your right, of course. I would prefer they stay closer to the house, but sometimes they seem to be just mindlessly looking for tidbits and before they know it they're away from home base. I check on them very frequently, like once every half hour or so. I have 18 total; 16 hens and two roos. One roo is very good about keeping an eye out for predators, the other is only interested in two things, eating and that other thing.
We have our fair share of predators. Bobcats, raccoons, coyotes, some hawks, and at least one pair of golden eagles. Another predator I worry about is Killer Kitty, so she's become a part-time indoor cat and we let her out after the chickens are locked up for the night.
I guess I'll stick to just the two outside water sources for now. Maybe it'll keep them closer to home?
 

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