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 Cups | 3/4 cup | adults | 1 | yes |
Jar with Drown-Proof Base | 20 oz | chicks | 10-20/40 | no |
Chick Nipple Drinker | 1 liter | chicks/adults | 10-20 | no |
Pop Bottle Waterer Bases | n/a | chicks | 10-20 | no |
Double Down Drinker/Feeder | 0.2 gal | adults | 12 | no |
Classic Waterer | 0.4 gal | chicks | 15 | yes |
Quail & Chick Waterer | 1 gal | chicks | 12 | no |
Mid Connect Waterer | 1 gal | adults | 12 | yes |
Pigeon Drinker Pigeon Drinker Pigeon Drinker |
1.3 gal 2.1 gal 3.2 gal |
adults adults adults |
18 25 38 |
no no no |
Top Fill Poultry Waterers Top Fill Poultry Waterers |
1.5 gal 3 gal |
chicks/adults chicks/adults |
18 35 |
yes yes |
Heated Poultry Waterer | 3 gal | adults | 35 | yes |
3-Season Nipple Waterer 3-Season Poultry Waterer |
3 gal 3 gal |
adults adults |
35 35 |
yes yes |
Bucket Nipple Waterer | 3 gal | adults | 35 | yes |
Rubber Pan Rubber Pan |
3 gal 6 gal |
adults adults |
35 70 |
yes yes |
Double Wall Drinker | 3.5 gal | adults | 40 | yes |
Imperial Tri-Pod Waterer Imperial Tri-Pod Waterer Imperial Tri-Pod Waterer |
2.5 gal 5 gal 7.5 gal |
adults adults adults |
30 60 90 |
yes yes yes |
Quick Clean Waterer Quick Clean Waterer |
3 gal 5 gal |
adults adults |
35 60 |
yes yes |
Tri-Pod Waterer | 8 gal | adults | 100 | yes |
Kubic Waterer Kubic Waterer Kubic Waterer |
8 gal 10.5 gal 13 gal |
adults adults adults |
100 125 150 |
yes yes yes |
Horizontal Drip-Catch Nipples | gravity flow | adults | 6 | yes |
Suspended Dome Drinker | gravity flow | chicks/adults | 12-100 | yes |
Gravity Feed Pigeon Waterer | gravity flow | adults | 12-100 | yes |
Poultry Bowl Drinker, red Poultry Bowl Drinker, yellow |
gravity flow gravity flow |
adults adults |
12 2 |
no no |
Tube Float Waterer Tube Bowl Drinker |
gravity flow gravity flow |
adults adults |
12 12 |
yes yes |
Poultry Drinking Cups | gravity flow | adults | 12 | no |
AviAqua Poultry Drinker | 2 gal or gravity flow | adults | 36 | no |
Automatic All-flock Trough Waterer | 2.5 gal | adults | up to 100 | no |
Kane Portable Waterer | continuous | adults | over 100 | yes |
Canal Portable Waterer | continuous | adults | over 100 | yes |
No-Mess Automatic Poultry Drinker | continuous | adults | over 100 | yes |
Looking for feeders? Refer to our poultry feeder comparison chart.