Keeping your flock of chickens hydrated is a must. It’s essential for egg production, digestion, and regulating body heat.
Hens are unable to sweat, so they spread their wings and pant in hot weather. When they do this, water evaporates from their mouths and throats, cooling their bodies.
However, that water must be replaced by drinking frequently. Chickens don’t drink as much water in the wintertime, but they still need plenty of daily fresh water.
The easiest and most inexpensive way to water your chickens is with an old-fashioned bucket. Buckets made of heavy-duty rubber don’t dent and are practically indestructible.
However, they do have some cons. They have a small capacity. They’re easy for birds to tip over. And a they have a large water surface, which makes it easy for dirt and feces to get inside.
A commercial waterer also works well. They typically hold three to five gallons, with a small drinking area. They keep the water clean, and the larger capacity means you won’t have to refill the water supply as often.
Another option is to use a rain barrel. You can set one up so the rain falling on the coop’s roof channels through a gutter into the barrel. The water will be right where you need it, so you don’t have to haul buckets of it out to your chickens.
Rain barrels typically hold around 50 gallons of water, and you can fill up waterers with the spout at the bottom of the barrel.
If you have a hose tap near your chicken coop, you can use automatic waterers. The waterer hooks up to the hose, and the system refills itself.
With an automatic waterer, there’s no chance of running out of water, and the chance for spillage is minimal.
Any waterer is challenged in the winter months, but there are a few options when it’s cold out. You can use an electrically-heated waterer for not only your chickens, but any farm animals or pets.
They’re thermostatically controlled to keep the water from icing over. Just keep an eye on your birds and waterer—the chickens can easily tip over some waterers.
You can also use a heated base with metal waterers.
Learn more about different chicken waterers and feeders with our buyer’s guide.
Whether you’re raising them as pets, meatbirds, or for egg laying, backyard chickens are a fun step into hobby farming. At Blain’s Farm & Fleet, you’ll find everything you need to take care of your flock. You can even order baby chicks during Chick Days.
For more tips on caring for your birds, visit our Chickens & Poultry Blog.
