Basically, as long as you do not let your hens run out of water and make sure they are aware of the water source both nipple drinkers and open waterers provide plenty of water availability. You need to have about 3″ of open waterer space per hen as a minimum and 1 nipple per 9 hens, again as a minimum.
I’m using a nipple waterer attached to a 5-gallon water cooler, but my chickens don’t seem to be getting enough water, especially on the hot summer days. What should I do?
Chickens are usually very good at meeting their individual needs. If they have access to feed, water, shelter and a dust bath, they thrive on their own. Most of the time, we can trust their instincts, but during the heat of the summer or in the frozen winter, chickens need some human intervention.
How much a chicken drinks in one day varies with its individual needs, its activity level and the heat of the day. Some say each full-sized chicken will drink 1/2 liter per day, and more or less depending on those other variables. I don’t believe my own flock drinks that much. Besides, if a flock free-ranges, they also get water from additional sources, like from insects and fresh greens.
On hot days, and especially during difficult heat waves, it’s good to be concerned about water intake because extreme heat can be very dangerous, even deadly, for chickens. Also, chickens’ built-in cooling mechanism—panting—continuously releases warm water vapor, dehydrating them further. But, drinking (and eating) is usually low on their priority list during the hottest part of the day, when they can suffer the most.
You can lead a chicken to water, but you can’t make it drink. If it isn’t in distress, meaning its acting perky and happy, assume it’s fine. But if the heat is extreme and your chicken is lethargic, it’s time to step in.
Because my flock grew up in the South, they’ve adapted to heat I can’t seem to bear as a native northern human. Where you live, 80 degrees F might be extreme for your chickens. My girls don’t show signs of heat stress until the temperature is in the 90s and the humidity stretches the heat index over 100. On days like those, most water intake happens in early morning and in late evening before bed.
To boost water intake on days forecasted to be very hot, I offer that morning’s feed rations mixed with water. Midday, I offer irresistible treats to hydrate and cool the flock mid-day. Recently, when my flock was showing signs of heat stress, I blended a cold electrolyte smoothie made of ice, some aging fruit and veggies from the fridge, a little salt (an electrolyte), and a spoonful of yogurt. Then I mixed the cold mixture with a little chicken feed to absorb the smoothie, so it didn’t become a liquid mess on my patio. The chickens flocked to the smoothie and cooled down quickly, and their energy level returned to normal, relieved from the stress they felt that afternoon.
How to Train your Chickens to use their new RentACoop nipples
FAQ
Are nipples or cups better for chickens?
What’s the best way to give chickens water?
Are chicken nipple waterers good?
Then a we fill the container, we assure the water level doesn’t go past that hole. Chicken nipple waterers are the best chicken waterer. They are inexpensive, prevent the spread of disease, and keep your chickens water clean and healthy.
Do chickens need watering nipples?
This contained chicken watering nipple decreases the spread of disease. And, since the water is not exposed to light, no algae forms. As an added bonus, since buckets are high capacity (and inexpensive), you don’t need to fill up your chickens waterer as often.
How do I train my chickens to eat a nipple Waterer?
One solution is to use a small container like a clear juice jug just to train the chickens on. It’s easy to watch the water line, and being a smaller container the water level will drop more quickly with use. Once you are comfortable with your birds using the nipple waterer, you can then switch your flock to a bucket waterer.
How do chickens stop drinking from watering nipples?
When a chicken pecks at the pin, the o-ring is moved out from the groove in the barrel (the threaded part), allowing water into the nipple. When the hen stops drinking, the o-ring seals the barrel stopping water flow. Do you have to teach chickens to drink from watering nipples?