Seemingly healthy chickens drinking very little water?

[chicken_lady_amanda]

I have four hens and recently added a rooster. After consistently drinking plenty of water since I got them less than a year ago, I haven't had to fill their waterer for days. They appear healthy, are very energetic, and are laying normally. It is spring, so they have started free ranging throughout our currently muddy acreage. Could this be why? Are there any risks to them drinking the rainwater if that is what they are doing?

Thanks so much!

 

[Coops Dad]

Our land gets lots of pooled rainwater during this time of year and the chickens love it. They'd rather drink puddled water than from their waterer. Surprisingly, they also love hunting bugs, worms and frogs in the standing water too. I've seen them belly-deep as they push through tall pasture grass while on the hunt.

 

[Aapomp831]

They are drinking muddy water; mine prefer it to clean drinking water. The risks are determined by where you’re located; which parasites are prominent in your area.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I have chickens that will walk by the waterer to eat snow I wouldn't be concerned with the rainwater. It could be why you aren't having to fill it. Is their waterer clean? Is it heated?

 

[chicken_lady_amanda]

Their waterer is a heated one nipples, though it's been warm enough that the heater has been running very little. Now that it's nice and muddy outside I've been wiping off the nipples when they get muddy.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Have you checked the water itself? Sometimes the heaters can malfunction and overheat or short out.

If nothing is wrong with their waterer, I'm sure they're getting their fill elsewhere.

 

[chicken_lady_amanda]

I just ran out to check, and the water isn't frozen

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine love water from puddles, drips off the fence, etc. When it's rainy, there's almost no need for me to fill the waterer at all, as they get their fill elsewhere.