watering question...

[ButtersMama]

Hello, I have 5 hens about 23 weeks now. My problem is that I have a plastic waterer with a red bottom. We have (until now) raised it a bit with an upside down pan. One of the hens is aggresive and knocks it over all the time spilling it all over the coop. My husband hung it and it is worse now. The coop is drenched. I think its a little low. I need to raise it? What level should it be in regards to chicken height? Do I need to buy another waterer?

Any advice?

 

[ctbagley]

If your upside down pan is large enough in diameter, I would find a few good size rocks to put around the waterer spaced wide enough for the chickens to still get to it easily. After a while, she will probably stop trying if she cannot knock it over anymore. The rocks worked for me really well. Also, if you have a small waterer, you may want to go ahead and get a 64 oz or larger. They won't turn it over easily! Good luck.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

I would recommend a new waterer like the one below. The hanging waterers are just so much hassle with collecting debris, growing algae, getting banged around and taking up space.
That is my preferance since the cups have worked so well for me.

As far as the height, you do not want the waterer too high or it is difficult for the chickens to drink. The correct height for most waterers (excluding nipples) is so when the chicken bends over, its back is a straight line while it is drinking.

You can see the straight back of my chicken on this picture.

 

[ButtersMama]

Thank you. Both of your answers were very helpful

 

[Nicole01]

I actually keep the waterer outside in the run. It's a 5 gallon, but I can't fill it up all the way to carry it. This winter, the waterer is going in the corner of the coop up on wood blocks. I will need to put a plastic tray underneath.

Maybe your waterer isn't big enough? Even with ours 1/4 filled or less, it's impossible to knock over.

 

[springchickencharlie]

ours don't knock theirs over, but they walk in it and get the water very dirty.

 

[BoltonChicken]

IMHO you cannot do better than nipple waterers. No mess, no spilling, no daily cleaning. I re-fill the five gallon bucket weekly, add five tablespoons of ACV and am done with it. Chickens are completely happy with them.
If you want lots of info on these do a search. There tons of post about the subject on this forum.

 

[JusticeFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Sorry to jump in on this thread- but is the ACV just for the chicken's benefit or does it help with keeping the waterer from getting green? I have a 5 gal waterer that I haven't started using yet, with a hose to pvc pipe with the nipples along the pvc pipe... but I'm worried about the bucket getting green. I know the plastic waterers with the screw-on red bottoms (you know the ones) I have now are green every day when I change the water (at least in this heat). Do you have that issue with your 5 gal bucket? Thanks!

 

[gale65]

ACV is good for both. I go about 3 or 4 days between filling the waterer and haven't had a problem beyond some minor stuff to scrub (we have very hard well water, btw). Ours is not in the sun but it's still pretty warm during the day.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

My opinion is that waterer cups are the best way to go. Chickens like drinking from an open source of water or else I would have nipples as number one. Either cups or nipples are both great and much better than any other watering option but some people experience leaking or low drinking rates with nipples. It is really preferance but given both options, chickens will always choose the cups where they can see the water.