How much water do chickens drink?

[cjstanman]

What made me ask is this. I've got a 1-gallon water thing for 4 hens. I fill it up twice a day. They are either a) drinking like there's no tomorrow, or b) bumping into it all day and spilling it. I can't tell all the time - sometimes there's a puddle, so I know they spilled it. Other times... it's just dry.

Either way, they're not dying of thirst, but it made me wonder. ?

 

[JennsPeeps]

They are drinking that much. My 3 standards and 1 banty went through 3 gallons in 4 days. When my 2 chicks (BA & BO) grow up, we'll have to fill that waterer every other day.

When the 3 chicks coming in April go outside, we'll have to get a 2nd waterer, I'm sure.

 

[debilorrah]

Chickens drink far more water than any one human being could. They amaze me.

 

[Akane]

Hmm... I haul a 1g container out every day for 18 chickens (2 being bantams) and it tops off the water bucket just fine. Sometimes there is extra.

 

[ams3651]

now Id be tempted to say some is leaking or spilling. my one gallon waterer lasts my 6 chickens about a day and a half. If it is not even it will leak out because of the gravity fed spigot thing. I may give up my waterer all together and just keep the large bowl I have now that I was using in the winter.

 

[Chicken03]

Yeah chickens drink alot. I read that they drink do much because their eggs are almost completly made of water.

 

[countryboy88]

For my flock I have to fill up 2 1 gallon's everyday and I just added a 3 gallon ( I think) at feed time today because there 1 gallons were all most all drank in 10 mins.

But I also water 60+ fowl

 

[Mahonri]

In the summer my 20 go through about 6 gallons. Fill up the three gallon waterer twice a day... 2nd time with ice in it.

 

[WindcrestChickens]

O.k. so I am not losing my mind....I just got a 3 gallon waterer and my 11 ladies are attacking me when I arrive with refills. I had one fly straight up to my face and landing in the bucket I was carrying, and sucking it down as I carried her in the bucket.

I figured they had been spilling as well....but they really do drink...well, like fish!

 

[vermontgal]

Mine are only drinking about a quart a day for 3 chickens. It is still pretty cold here. I'm planning to get them a bigger waterer before summer. From this thread, it sounds like I should perhaps consider larger than the 1 gallon?

I notice that they often go for a drink directly after laying an egg.