Water consumption question

[Erdin]

Hi....i have eleven birds about nine weeks old. They drink about 5 gallons of water about every day and a half or so. Is this normal? i am using one of those galvanized water tanks that is i think gravity fed..temps have been mid 80's here in SW Colorado if that contributes....thx

 

[donrae]

Sounds like it's getting wasted somehow. Have you checked for leaks or drips?

For reference, a 7 gallon waterer lasts my breeding pen of 1 grown rooster and 5 large hens well over a week.

I have ~ 2 dozen chicks that are 4ish weeks old. They go through not quite a gallon a day.

 

[Y N dottes]

that seems like a lot. I have 17 - 8week old chicks that drink about 1-2 gallons in about that much time.
is it very dry where u are? last year when I was in sw Colorado in the summer I remember it being somewhat dryer.
also, what does their poop look like? is it quite watery? if so, that is usually an indicator that they are drinking more water than usual due to some factor. it doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong, but certainly unusual.

 

[bustedchicks]

My flock of 30 go thru 25 gallons a week. I have two 5 gallon buckets with vertical nipples and a 2.5 gallon trough.
I think they just drink from the trough because it is fun and or is something to do.

 

[centrarchid]

Is the waterer exposed to sunlight. Evaporation kicks way up for me when that is the case.