How much water do chickens drink?

[beerguzzler]

The best money/time I spent was putting in an auto waterer. Had to dig a 40 foot trench to bury a water line but it was worth it.

 

[marilyn1954]

I was buying a water er at the local feed store and the woman told me not. To feed or water in the coop, said the get plenty during the day, and when u don't feed and water in the coop is is much cleaner in the coop.......true.....or........false

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I was buying a water er at the local feed store and the woman told me not. To feed or water in the coop, said the get plenty during the day, and when u don't feed and water in the coop is is much cleaner in the coop.......true.....or........false

It's a matter of personal choice really. Some people place their feeders/waterers outside the coop (ie in the run), others choose to keep them in the coop.

 

[marilyn1954]

I was concerned that they wouldn't have water all night, is that not a big deal??

 

[Mountain Man 60]

It will save you some time if you get a 5 gallon bucket and put three water nipples on the bottom. Hang it from the handle to avoid bottom distortion and leaking when full. Better yet put a plastic gutter on your coop and attach a bulkhead fitting to a garden hose into the bucket and never carry water again. It rains to fill the bucket before my eight chickens can finish the five gallons.

 

[WVDoug]

I'd like to know how much they REALLY drink (not spill). I have ten 9 week old and eight 10 week old, and all of them together might go through 1/2 gallon a day.
I'm sure they'll drink more once they are full grown, start laying, and in the heat of the summer, but really?
I will need to go away each spring for about a week, and need to know how big to make a waterer (and feeder) to keep them supplied while I'm away. I'm sure I can get someone to pick up the free eggs every day, but I'd rather not trust them with my birds' lives.
I do not have running water at the barn/coop and it is cost prohibitive to add, but I can run a hose temporarily, if needed. I'd rather build a rain collection system to feed into a 55 gal. barrel and PVC lines with nipples.
How big a barrel do I need to start out with to GUARANTEE they have enough water for at least a week?

 

[Cindy in PA]

My 12 go through about a gallon a day unless it's extremely hot. I use a regular bell waterer & their is no waste. When I go away for 3-4 days I just set 1-2 extra waterers around the pen. 1 extra would do, but I'm paranoid!

 

[WVDoug]

How much do they drink when it's really hot?

 

[WVDoug]

Some of mine have been panting and holding their wings out and it's only May (and they're not full sized yet).
The raised coop is in the northwest corner of a metal barn and has a run under it, plus access to the outdoor run during the day. The sides of the indoor run are hardware cloth, as well as ventilation across the top and bottom of the coop sides and a 15x30 jalousie window open to the north side. I'll be adding more ventilation to the outside (mostly shaded north side) of the barn, both in the coop and under. Also will have to add exhaust vents on the north gable end of the barn. It's been in the 80s in the coop, but 70s under it (with the barn doors open, which they won't be when I'm away).
Obviously, I need to GUARANTEE they have plenty of water.

 

[WVDoug]

OK, I know this is an old thread, but on the off chance someone sees this:

It is mid-winter here in northern WV. I'm using a 5 gal bucket with a bird bath heater and horizontal nipples to supply my flock of 27 hens and two roosters with water.

About every 36 hours, I empty two 182oz bottles full of water into the bucket.

364 oz/36 hr =10.111111.... oz/hr

10.111111...oz x 24 hr =242.666666...oz/day

242.6666.... oz/day/29 chickens = 8.367816.... oz/day/chicken.

SO:

Each chicken USES (not necessarily DRINKS) 8.4 oz per day in the winter.