Watering systems? How many chickens per waterer?

[jtotherow]

How about Waterings? We have an Uncle that has a turkey Farm and changed over his watering system and gave us a lot of his old watering sytem that still works. I don't know why he swtiched and wasn't concerned until I followed his instruction of having at least 3 for all the chickens I have. The problem is that they're not drinking enough to keep the algea from growing. I asked my husband to break them down to two and see how it worked but I really feel we dont' need more than one.

This system streams fresh water in as they drink down the water thats there. It's set up with our water hose that is buried to keep it cool.

We are constantly washing out these waterers as much as the old one where we watered them everyday and they stepped into those but can't on these. Am I wrong about one? We have 34 chickens. I went this way because I know how important fresh water is for them.

Can anyone help me?

 

[Davaroo]

The text books tell us laying chickens drink two pounds of water for every pound of food. In hot weather that may double. They also require about 6" per bird for access to the water.

It sounds to me as if you may have the wrong sort of waterer.
I'm guessing you have outside chickens, each of whom visit the water source infrequently.

I think you might be better off with one of the nipple drinker set ups, a series of self-filling cups, or an auto-filling fountain. These serve the birds, while eliminating the spillage or algae problems you currently deal with.

 

[jtotherow]

That's what my Uncle had went to was the nipple waterer. I do have outside and They drink and eat at different times. they don't have a routine except laying. Mine is looks like the white dome with the red bottom like a normal waterer. My uncle had said that if they drink it fast enough then it wouldn't happen.

That's why I asked? they can't run out it auto fills when it get low.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Unfortunately, if I understand you right, it also grows algae. I think I know the type your uncle gave you - called a bell waterer. They are not uncommon in poultry houses. I have one around here, somewhere. Pretty clever idea, the way they work.
They are "wet" units, though, meaning they have exposed water somewhere. Usually this is a ring shaped trough of water around the bottom. As the birds deplete this water, the valve on top opens and a small amount of water is allowed to run down the bell shaped housing to refill the trough. Once full, the weight of the water shuts off the valve. This wetness encourages algae growth, although I would think one unit with 36 birds wouldn't have that problem, so you should at least try reducing to one.
If that doesn't solve it, you know where you need to go next

 

[jtotherow]

Thanks so much! I have to always have anothers words to get my husband to bend he really overkills any project he does. I'll pass this on to him. Thank you again. You are right that is exactly what I have. They are called the bells.

I washed and scrubbed them with dishwashing liquid and bleach because he had turkeys and Mine are organicly feed and no anitbotics. I'm very careful with them and have lost some to wild life but not to diesase.

We will be backed down by Monday. We don't work with them on Sunday My feeder last two days but I gather everyday.