Do they need it over night in the coup? My hens free range with my ducks and they share a coup, but it's divided. In winter, I kept a water dish inside the coup and they all had access (kept partition open) ... Buuuut ... a dish of water to the ducks is a bath for them as well as drink, and it's messy. Chickens seem ok with it but they would NEVER make that kindof mess, and I'm certain, from the way they nit pick around and sip their drink so carefully that they would much prefer a more controlled watering experience. So assuming they free range during the day, and have access to water form numerous sources, do they need it at night after they roost? If they aren't going to sip at night, then I won't bother with the water in the coup. But my animal instincts tell me to always have water available I'm trying to keep things a little drier and cleaner ... Those cute little upside down water dispensers just get knocked over .... I do love my ducks. And they are so very pleased with themselves all covered in mud, pooping every two steps, smiling, quacking, waddling around using up every clean drop of water on my 15 acres for ANOTHER bath .... But I gotta side with the hens ... drinking water is not for bathing! Help!
Chickens don't need it overnight, but bright and early in the morning they will search for it. If you have standing puddles of bath water, that would not be healthy for your chickens.
I only have two at the moment, but I am expecting ten chicks next week and will be adding to my coup when they are older. Thanks!
When a chicken gets on the roost in the evening, it's there for the night. They don't wake up to eat & drink during the night.
