Choosing a Poultry Waterer
Optimum capacity is dependent on:
- Number and size of birds.
- How often you prefer to water them.
Choose a waterer that will provide enough clean water for the birds between your visits to the coop.
- For chicks use a small waterer with a drown-proof or narrow base.
- For waterfowl use a waterer with a wide base so they can fit their bills into it.
If you have a few birds or visit frequently, you can manage with a smaller waterer. If you have many birds, you need a larger one, especially during hot summer months.
What is a bird’s daily water intake?
A medium-size adult chicken will drink about 0.08 gal (just over a cup) on a hot day. Temperature, size and age of the bird and amount of salt in the feed will cause this figure to vary considerably.
Waterer tips...
- Keep the waterer level. This enables the internal float (if applicable) to work properly—and prevents water overflowing onto the floor or soil.
- Clean them often. Hard water deposits or algae may block valves.
- Place waterers on concrete blocks or Chick Stands. Birds are less likely to foul the water when scratching near it.
- Change the waterer’s location often to prevent mud holes from forming.
- Do not place waterers in the sun—a shaded location reduces the amount of evaporation and keeps the water cooler.
Waterer Comparison Chart
Name | Capacity | Suited for | No. of birds | Waterfowl |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abbey Cage Cup | 3/4 cup | adults | 1 | yes |
Jar, Drown-Proof Base | 20 oz | chicks | 10-20 | no |
Chick Nipple Drinker | 1 liter | chicks | 10-20 | no |
Pop Bottle Bases | n/a | chicks | 10-20 | no |
Drinking Cup | continuous | adults | 12 | no |
Classic Waterer | 0.4 gal | chicks | 15 | yes |
Pigeon Drinker | 1.32 gal | adults | 18 | no |
Top Fill Fountain Top Fill Fountain |
1.5 gal 3 gal |
adults adults |
18 35 |
yes yes |
Heated Waterer | 3 gal | adults | 35 | yes |
Bucket Nipple Waterer | 3 gal | adults | 35 | yes |
Imperial Tri-Pod Imperial Tri-Pod Imperial Tri-Pod |
2.5 gal 5 gal 7.5 gal |
adults adults adults |
30 60 90 |
yes yes yes |
QuickClean, 3 gal QuickClean, 5 gal |
3 gal 5 gal |
adults adults |
35 60 |
yes yes |
Tri-Pod | 8 gal | adults | 100 | yes |
Kubic Kubic Kubic |
8 gal 10.5 gal 13 gal |
adults adults adults |
100 125 150 |
yes yes yes |
No-Mess Auto Drinker | continuous | adults | over 100 | yes |
Kane, plastic | continuous | adults | over 100 | yes |
Looking for feeders? Refer to our poultry feeder comparison chart.