How much water will I go through?

[Stedman]

This is a hypothetical question. If I were to leave for 8 days would a five gallon bucket full of water with the nipples be enough for five chickens?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

My waterer is 5 gallons. We went out of town this past long weekend. I filled it up Saturday around 9 am and then we left. This waterer was for 30 chickens, composed of 4 one-month-old chicks, 14 bantams (<3 pounds), and 12 large fowl. When we returned around noon on Monday there was perhaps a gallon to a gallon of a half gone. Temps were in the high 50s to low 60s during the day. I expect that might go through nearly twice as much during the same time period in the summer with temps in the 90s.

Deduce what you will from that information. lol

 

[jennyf]

It would be for mine! I have six chickens, refill every week, and even in the summer they wouldn't use half of a 5 gallon bucket when I refill. Assuming your nipples are near the bottom.

 

[lazy gardener]

I err on the side of caution, especially where water is concerned. I'd leave a back up container if i'm not around to check it daily, just in case the main container springs a leak. Better safe than sorry. IMO, it's not a matter of: will this be enough? But: What if this container gets tipped, leaks, or otherwise malfunctions?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have 4 chickens and they barely get through a gallon a week, but they're also sipping water from puddles and licking droplets from the fence whenever they can, so it's hard to say how much they'd actually go through if that was their sole source of water.

 

[burkechicken]

Should be but I'm with lazy Gardner should have a back up just in case. Give a friend a dozen or so eggs just to check the water supply

 

[lilwildrabbit]

I am lazy too so I went and bought a 30 gallon plastic drum and pvc pipe along with some nipples for the pipe to water the chickens with about 40 birds mid summer it last a good week before I have to turn on the water hose and refil it I can see through so I see the water level and it keeps me from having to water the birds twice a day with the gallon wattmeter it got so dirty and I couldn't keep it clean

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Quote:
Have you used it in summer before? My waterer is clear and the algae growth can get out of control.

 

[lilwildrabbit]

Quote:
Have you used it in summer before? My waterer is clear and the algae growth can get out of control.

I used it all last summer to controll algae I cover it from direct sunlight if it starts to show algae I use a part of a capful of Clorox per 30 gallons it usually clears it up in a day and don't harm the chickens. Just avoid direct sunlight and you have far less problems

 

[CLutze27]

Would you be able to post a picture of your set up? I'm looking to setup a water barrel and PVC system, and trying to find a set up I like. End game is to have it hooked up to the gutter off of the covered part of the run.