Open Water Bowls

[rdranch]

We have a 3 gallon metal fount on a heater base in the coop and as of last fall I started using two black rubber bowls outside in the run. They now have water where ever they are now. In the morning I pop out the ice and refill with fresh water and they also love to peck at the ice.

Works great!

 

[FarmerChick]

I never heard of them dunking? Huh? Never noticed.

I use the regular chicken waterer. It gets just as dirty as a bowl also. All water bowls or whatever you use need to be dumped out each day...who are we kidding..LOL...they scratch junk everywhere......so for me it doesn't matter what to use in a way but I know I will have to clean it out each day anyway.

But I use the big standing waterer cause I have alot of chickens and need water to last.

 

[Superior Chicks]

I don't mind cleaning the water dishes at all, the more excuses I have to visit my girls the better!

My main concern is what the chickens themselves prefer. I am going to go with the heated dog dish. I will set this inside a galvanized pan, then on a cinder block, to avoid as many spills/mess as possible. In the run I will keep a water bucket.

We'll see how the girls like it.

Thanks everyone for your insights and replies.

Ma

 

[computer_chicken]

I am now using the large heated dog bowl with my plastic waterer inserted inside, fits just right and so far it seems to be working nicely.

The chickens always get dirt, mostly wood shavings in the water even though I have it raised with wood blocks and on top of the wood a patio block that I placed there because of using the heated dog bowl. I have a concern with dust in the coup and am wondering how I can cut down on it. When the chickens jump down from their perch they cause alot of flying debris from the deep litter.

 

[SunAngel]

I bought 5 of those red and clear plastic one gallon waterers from TSC when I first got my chicks and ducks.

At first I used only those, then I used those only inside and got metal pans for outside in the run. Then I went to TSC and bought 4 black rubber dishes of various sizes and am down to only using those for inside the coops. I still have 1 of the red/clear ones in the big girls coop, but am seriously considering switching them to a large rubber dish also.

It is such a hassle to fill 5 or 6 of those waterers, but much easier to just dump out a dish and fill it back up. They do get junk in either one, so figured I might as well just use what is easiest for me. Plus the rubber and metal dishes last much longer. Two of my plastic waterers broke when the weather got cold, which also helped make my decision. I have never had any of my chickens dunk their heads or perch on the dishes yet.

 

[myfivegirls]

I used an open black rubber water bowl meat for horses or large livestock. I don't crack the dish when I use the ice chopper to put fresh water in it. Plus, I only have to spend $5 vs. $25-40 for a heated water dish. I have it on a cinder block that's broken in half. I put it under the roost and put their oyster shell and grit on the roost, so they don't poop in the water. There is too little space between the roost and water dish to climb inside. However, they do sometimes dip their head in the water. When it's above freezing in the chicken coop, they'll often have wet heads, but it doesn't seem to bother or hurt them.

 

[WalkingWolf]

I currently use old large stainless pots. You can usually get them at a thrift store for cheap. I use 5 gallon buckets for feeders from Firehouse subs, you can buy them for 2 dollars. I also use them to store food, and oyster shell. Once I get a few more I plan on using them for water. All the birds even the small bantams like to perch on them, so they should work great for water and they are high enough off the ground to not get filthy.

To make feeders I cut even space 3 inch holes a little less than half way up evenly all around the bucket. I can fill the feeders quickly by taking one bucket with premixed food and a scoop to each feeder. The best part is do to the shape the food stays dry in the rain, unless there are high winds.

I usually don't have problems with water freezing here, but I may pick up a small pond heater for a bucket.