Winter water consumption

[Stephanie8806]

OK, so, I have some questions regarding chickens and their winter water consumption. We have a Rubbermaid style tote, with a bucket deicer in it. It’s been doing a fantastic job. Best of the three watering setups we have tried this year. It also has five horizontal nipples on it, and the chickens figured it out right away.

Our tote has an 18 gallon capacity, and when we filled it three weeks ago, we put in about 8. In the three weeks, our nine chickens have only gone through about 4 gallons of it... maybe less! In that time, we’ve had several days or snow and any time I let them out to free range, they bee-line straight for it and eat a whole bunch, but they don’t get out every day.

I’m not seeing any sign of dehydration, which surely would be showing by now. They all look and act normal. The only chickens who appear to be “off” are in the middle of a molt, so it that explains their pale combs.

Now, this Summer, we had a flock of 12... and I know, chickens will use a lot more water in the summer... but we were going through about a gallon a day! To have dropped to 4 is gallons over 21 days seems drastic.

They have access to it, seem to prefer snow, and seem to be happy and healthy. So, should I be worried? Or are my lively free ranging birds just really enjoying free ranging their hydration too?

 

[Aapomp831]

Chickens drink waaaaay more water in the winter than they do in the summer. I’m not sure of the exact reason... I actually read that here on this site - and have observed this in my own flock. Don’t worry - it’s totally normal.

 

[Stephanie8806]

Chickens drink waaaaay more water in the winter than they do in the summer. I’m not sure of the exact reason... I actually read that here on this site - and have observed this in my own flock. Don’t worry - it’s totally normal.

Well that’s the problem... they’re hardly going through water at all. In summer they were going through 5x more than they are now. 9 chickens have only drank 4 total gallons over the course of 3 weeks...

 

[Aapomp831]

What are you feeding them?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are the ports freezing up at all?
Maybe they are stuck early in the day?

 

[Stephanie8806]

What are you feeding them?

The 18% corn and soy free layer feed from Scratch and Peck Feeds. Plus some occasional corn free scratch, grubs, and various produce(pumpkin, apples, greens)... they also free range a little almost every day... less lately though since we lost two to hawk attacks a few weeks back

 

[Stephanie8806]

Are the ports freezing up at all?
Maybe they are stuck early in the day?

No, I’ve been really on top of checking them first thing in the morning when I go up to let the chickens out of the coop, as well as throughout the day. Working flawlessly

 

[21hens-incharge]

Then.

Maybe they ate snow since it is is new and fun?
Going through such small amounts of water in the run is concerning.
I give wet mash every morning so water from that and my group of 8 still go through at least 1/3rd to 1/2 gallon a day.

 

[MissMonty]

I have three adult laying hens (all three laying daily or almost daily eggs, not sure that makes a difference) and they maybe drink about a gallon a day. (I have a 5 quart water container and they only get to "almost finished" LOL)

Mine always went through a lot more in the summers. Its possible they're eating snow or drinking water collecting from the rain.

I know my girls prefer fresher water so if its taking 3 weeks to empty that towards the end they could be drinking less because they don't like the stagnant water.

 

[Stephanie8806]

Thanks for the ideas. I will probably try dumping their bin and refilling it.

Consider its been so long, I feel like they must be getting enough water from their environment(either snow, rain, or melt) to not need the water in their waterer. I feel like dehydration going this long would kill them, or at the very least cause some sort of change in demeanor...

If they are acting normally, after this long, should I really be worried? Animals can’t talk, but they let us know when something is wrong in other ways. Should I be looking to fix something if, just maybe, it’s not broken in the first place?