My hens don't seem to like/use the coop waterer

[Renthorin]

I bought a 5-gallon water container an in the 4.5 days I've had the hens the water level hasn't dropped very much.

This morning, I let them into the run where there is a large rubber bowl and they all flocked to it like a dying man in a desert.

Is that a sign that they don't like the one in the coop? The water level of the bowl in the run isn't dropping much either but they sure looked thirsty.

This is the one in the coop:

I'm thinking of replacing the one in the coop with another large, rubber bowl. The waterer is elevated a little higher than the bowl on the ground but well below the level of the feeder that they are using.


Will

 

[Judy]

Are you changing the water every day? If so, I'd try washing it out with soap and maybe letting it air out for a few days.

 

[KDK1]

Mine do the same thing. They have an automatic waterer in the coop and one in the run so can't really go by water levels, just what I observe. Let them out in the AM and they flock to the outsice waterer... same water as inside... go figure!

 

[BoltonChicken]

Chickens are hard wired to drink from open pools of water. If they see a pool of water they will drink from that before they drink from anything else including nipple waterers. Believe me, they will not die of thirst if there is a water
source available. You do not say how many chicks you have or what age they are, but the level in a five gallon waterer will not drop much visually in five days. I think you are fine.

 

[Renthorin]

Hi Bolton. My hens are 12 weeks old (13 on Monday) and I have 12 of them.

I guess I'm worrying for nothing. Thanks for the support


Will

 

[BellevueOmlet]

I agree with BoltonChicken that they will find water if they need it - especially if they have an open source like you have. 12 chickens should make a dent in the water level in 5 days so there might be some reason they are avoiding it. Make sure there is no green growth on or in it as that is common with this type of waterer. Clean very well and add some apple cider vinegar to the water when you refill it.