On a homestead you learn pretty quickly that efficiency is key. If you don't find streamlined ways to do things you will constantly be running fixing little things and never have time for the bigger issues. It may seem like a simple tasks, but having a reliable waterer for your chickens is a HUGE time saver. Here are some of our picks and reviews for the best chicken waterers.
Other than feed (which you can give them with one of these DIY chicken feeders), water is the most important thing you can give to your chickens. It is crucial that they have a clean and reliable water source available at all times.
There are a ton of different types of waterers, made from all types of materials, with a plethora of different features. It can get quite overwhelming to pick one.
We can help you out with our reviews on 11 of the best chicken waterers available today!
11 Best Chicken Waterers
1. Van Ness Stainless Steel Large Dish, 96 Ounce
2. Farm Innovators Model P-60 60-Watt 1 ½ Gallon Heated Pet Bowl
3. Little Giant Baby Chick Waterer Base Metal Waterer Base Jar, 1 Quart
4. LITTLE GIANT Galvanized Double Wall Founts
5. Harris Farms Plastic Poultry Drinker, 5 Quart
6. Farm Innovators Model HPF-100 "All-Seasons" Heated Plastic Poultry Fountain, 3 Gallon, 100-Watt
7. RentACoop 5 Gallon/ 4 Automatic Chicken Nipple Water Cup Chicken Waterer
9. Pack of 6 - RentACoop Automatic Chicken Water Nipple Cup Waterer Kit for Poultry
10. RentACoop Make Your Own Waterer Kit - Horizontal Side Chicken Nipples + Installation Piece (12 Pack)
More details
Chicken waterers come in three different varieties:
- basic (buckets, bowls, water trough, etc)
- advanced (self contained reservoir, gravity fed, etc)
- automatic (self monitoring, automatic refills, etc)
Depending on the size of your flock and available water/electrical sources on your property, one or more of these types of waterers will fit your needs.
Basic
1. Van Ness Stainless Steel Large Dish, 96 Ounce
Description: You can't get any simpler or basic than a metal water dish. Just fill it up and your chickens are good to go.
This dish is initially designed for a large dog so it holds 96 ounces of water. It features a rubber on the bottom so it won't easily slide around. Since it is made of stainless steel, it is also pretty heavy. The extra weight means it won't easily tip or flip over when your chickens perch on the side of it.
Features: Stain steel construction, non-skid rubber bottom, 96 ounce capacity
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 10.2 x 10.2 x 2.8 inches, Weight: 1.4 lbs
Pros:
- inexpensive
- heavy duty
- durable
- easy to break up water when frozen
Cons:
- must be manually refilled, quite often with larger flocks and in warmer weather
- metal design hold cold more easily and freezes quickly
- water gets dirty easily
- can be dangerous for chicks and juveniles who fall in and can't get back out
2. Farm Innovators Model P-60 60-Watt 1 ½ Gallon Heated Pet Bowl
Description: The next step up from a water dish is this heated water dish. Depending on where you live, a good portion of the year can have temperatures dipping below freezing. When that happens you will have to manually break up the ice so your chickens can drink.
This heated dish has an internal thermostat that will only activate when temperatures get too low. This will raise the temperature of the water just high enough that it won't freeze. Since it uses a thermostat, you will not be wasting any electricity during warmer days.
Chickens can be pretty curious and peck things to investigate. The anti-chew coil wrapped cord keeps them from destroying the power cord and keeps them safe from frayed wires.
Features: heated reservoir keeps water from freezing, even in sub-zero temperatures, has a 1 ½ gallon capacity, thermostat controlled, 5 ft heavy duty cord that has an anti-chew protective coil
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 13 x 12.6 x 5.8 inches, Weight: 2.29 lbs
Pros:
- high capacity
- keeps water from freezing
- anti-chew cord
- wide base keeps it from tipping
Cons:
- must be manually refilled, quite often with larger flocks and in warmer weather
- water gets dirty easily
- can be dangerous for chicks and juveniles who fall in and can't get back out
- short cord limits placement options without extension cord
- Unit may need to be replaced after a year or two
Advanced
3. Little Giant Baby Chick Waterer Base Metal Waterer Base Jar, 1 Quart
Description: This is the only chick specific waterer on this list. But, if you have chicks, it is really the only one you need. There is not a great variety on chick waterers. Most of the conventional waterers you will see are either too complicated, too dangerous, or both, for a chick to use.
The design of this waterer is really easy to use. Take a Mason jar, fill it with water, screw the waterer base onto the jar. Then flip it upside down and your babies can drink.
It is stainless steel and has a wide base so it is next to impossible for them to knock it over. It is also durable so you wont often need to replace it. The basin is shallow and narrow so it is not easy for a chick to fall in and get stuck. Chicks getting stuck in a waterer and drowning is not uncommon and this waterer does a lot to prevent that from happening.
Features: compact and easy to move around; can fit most Mason jars or 1-quart feeder jar, designed for baby chicks, rounded edges to cut down on chafing and injury, shallow and narrow channel keeps chicks from getting stuck and drowning
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 5.5 x 1.13 x 5.5 inches, Weight: .81 lbs
Pros:
- universal design allows use with standard Mason jars. No need to purchase additional pieces.
- designed for chicks so it is safe for them to use
- stanless steel and durable
Cons:
- designed for chicks so you will need a different waterer when they get older
- depending on how many chicks you have, it will need to be refilled often
- when used with pine chip bedding, pine can get in water channel and become clogged
- the hole between the base and the Mason jar can be sharp
4. LITTLE GIANT Galvanized Double Wall Founts
Description: This is likely the most common type of chicken waterer you will see. It is made of galvanized steel and is very heavy duty. Your chickens can be as abusive as they like to this waterer and it will not suffer one bit.
It features a 5 gallon capacity reservoir and is gravity fed. It has a channel large enough for chickens but can also be used with other large fowl breeds i.e. turkeys, ducks, guineas, etc). It's design allows the channel to stay at a consistent level until the internal reservoir is empty.
We have personally used this type of waterer for years and it always works extremely well. The sloped lid keeps most chickens from roosting and, thus, eliminates droppings from ending up in the water. The narrow design of the channel walls also keep chickens from roosting on the edge and dumping the whole thing over.
In the colder months of the year you can purchase an additional heated base to use with this waterer. This is a good way to keep your waterer from freezing when temperatures get too low.
Features: heavy duty galvanized stainless steel, rolled edges keep chickens safe from cuts and injury, tested to be leak proof, sloped top prevents roosting, can safely be used with heated base
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 15.2 x 15.2 x 15.2 inches, Weight: 4 pounds
Pros:
- high capacity tank (5 gallons)
- high capacity means refilling less often
- heavy duty design can handle abuse
- sloped lid prevents roosting and droppings in water
- shallow channel and covered reservoir keep water fresh and clean
Cons:
- is not cheap
- when completely full the unit can be quite heavy
- handle can be flimsy when lifting after filling
- when water freezes it can be very difficult to open and refill or breakup ice
- requires an additional unit (purchased seperately) to keep from freezing
5. Harris Farms Plastic Poultry Drinker, 5 Quart
Description: Similar to the gravity fed waterer above, this is also pretty commonplace in the chicken coop. The big difference between this and the one above is it is made of plastic.
Plastic construction has it's benefits. It is easier to clean than metal. It won't rust. It is much, much lighter, and is generally less expensive.
In our experience with plastic waterers, they work pretty well with a small number of birds. In our breeding pens, they almost all had this or similar waterers. They are easy to refill and keep clean.
The downside of plastic waterers, of any type, is they do not last for a super long time. If you slip and drop it after refilling, it will likely crack. If it freezes over, the top reservoir piece is usually okay, but the base can crack pretty easily.
If you use them with a heated base or if you live in a warmer climate, none of this will affect you.
Features: heavy duty plastic design, easy to fill, easy to clean, can be used with heated base
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 10.9 x 9.7 x 10.9 inches, Weight: 1 pound
Pros:
- plastic is lightweight
- less expensive than a metal waterer
- easy to refill
- comfortable handle
Cons:
- can crack easily if dropped
- base can crack if water freezes
- need additional unit (sold seperately) to keep from freezing in cold climates
- must be refilled manually
6. Farm Innovators Model HPF-100 "All-Seasons" Heated Plastic Poultry Fountain, 3 Gallon, 100-Watt
Description: We have another plastic gravity fed waterer as an option. The difference with this unit is that it is heated. If you live in an area with colder winters, you will understand that a heated waterer can save you from a ton of extra work.
The same concepts apply to this waterer as the others. It has a large reservoir to keep refilling times minimal. The channel for the water is shallow and narrow so it is easy to keep clean.
Refilling this unit is pretty simple. There is a plug on the bottom that is removable so you can just flip the unit upside down and refill from there. This may be a bit more difficult if you have your cord in an inconvenient location. If you are not able to easily unplug the heating cord, the reservoir is removable, as well.
Normally, we are more skeptical of a plastic unit due to cracking in freezing conditions. However, this unit is heated and, thus, should not have the same issues.
Features: high capacity reservoir, heavy duty plastic design, heated to prevent freezing down to 0 degrees F, internal thermostat only heats when needed
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 12 x 16 x 12 inches, Weight: 2.25 pounds
Pros:
- electric heater keeps it from freezing
- fills from the bottom so you don't have to remove the lid
- thermostat only engages heat when needed
- plastic design is lightweight
- can be used on the ground or suspended
Cons:
- must be refilled manually
- flat top can encourage chickens to roost
- roosting can require cleaning more often
- can overflow if not completely level
- short electrical cord
Automatic
7. RentACoop 5 Gallon/ 4 Automatic Chicken Nipple Water Cup Chicken Waterer
Description: This is the first automatic waterer on the list. The cup design is intended to keep down water waste and provide a steady supply of fresh clean water.
As the chickens drink, the weight of the water decrceases. This causes the cup to lift slightly, opening the valve to the reservoir. Once the cup is full enough, the weight of the cup causes it to lower and close the valve. This process repeats ad infinitum (or at least until the reservoir is empty).
The reservoir is huge, holding up to 5 gallons of water! The lid is a standard square lid and makes removing and refilling a breeze. The reviews state. as well as the Amazon description, that the attached handle is not strong enough to support the it's weight when full.
It is recommended setting this waterer on a cinder block in the center of your coop. You can hang it but not from the handle. You will need to purchase an additional strap to hang it safely.
The reservoir of this unit is able to be heated, however, the heat will not transfer to the individual cups. So, while the water may not freeze in the reservoir, the cups will freeze in really cold temperatures.
Features: cups refill themselves, chickens do not have to hit a trigger, hens can dip waddles in large cups for extra cooling, can hang with purchase of additional strap
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 10 x 12 x 14 inches, Weight: 2.35 pounds
Pros:
- easy to setup
- minimal waste so less time is spent refilling
- cup system keeps water fresh and clean
- large lid makes refilling easy
- cups are large enough for chickens to soak their waddles while drinking allowing them to cool in hot weather
Cons:
- cups will not work in freezing conditions
- cups are so low on the unit that they can break when setting the bucket flat on the ground
- can leak if not level
- must be hung and handle is not strong enough. Must purchase additional strap to hang securely.
8. Pack of 6 - RentACoop Automatic Chicken Water Nipple Cup Waterer Kit for Poultry
Description: If you like a more hands on approach, this option is for the cup system from the above unit. You can get the cups, but will need to provide the other materials yourself. You will also need to assemble it yourself following the provided instructions.
This has all the same benefits as the system listed above at about half of the cost. You'll have to put in a little more elbow grease to get started but most homesteaders are used to that anyway. Water cups come in a six pack so you can make two 3-cup waterers or have a few extras in case something breaks.
Features: comes with 6 cups, cups refill themselves, chickens do not have to hit a trigger, hens can dip waddles in large cups for extra cooling
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 9 x 8 x 4 inches, Weight: 6.4 ounces
Pros:
- minimal waste so less time is spent refilling
- cup system keeps water fresh and clean
- cups are large enough for chickens to soak their waddles while drinking allowing them to cool in hot weather
Cons:
- cups will not work in freezing conditions
- cups are so low on the unit that they can break when setting the bucket flat on the ground
- can leak if not level
9. Fully Automatic Poultry Drinking Machine Chicken Drinking Cup, Chicken Drinking Machine/Poultry Drinking Machine (12 Pieces)
Description: Again, if you prefer to go the more DIY route, you may like this waterer option the most. Instead of a full waterer, you can pickup the automatic cup attachment and make your own waterer.
This comes as a 12 pack which is enough to make 3 good sized (5 gallons or so) waterers. You will just need to provide the buckets and assemble them yourself, following the provided instructions.
Each cup has a bright yellow trigger, to which chickens are attracted to. They will peck the trigger, releasing the valve, causing the cup to fill with water. The valve only opens when pecked and only fills enough for the chicken to drink.
This design helps cut down on water waste and pads in more time between refilling. Cleaning is pretty simple as each cup is easy to remove and small in size.
Just like the unit above, you can heat the water bucket but not the cups. However, because this unit has a trigger mechanism, the cups are less likely to freeze.
Features: bright yellow trigger makes training chickens to cups easier, chickens filling cups is completely automatic, cups do not refill unless triggered so there should be no leaks
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 3.5 x 2 x 2.5 inches, Weight: 4.8 ounces
Pros:
- low cost
- trigger system makes leaks and water waste minimal
- less leaks and waste means longer times between refills
Cons:
- not a complete watering system, must provide reservoir and assemble yourself
- some reviews state that cups can be leaky
- may require additional tools to assemble correctly
10. RentACoop Make Your Own Waterer Kit - Horizontal Side Chicken Nipples + Installation Piece (12 Pack)
Description: This is the final DIY entry on this list. Like the previous two, you will need to provide your own reservoir and follow the provided instructions for assembly.
The horizontal nipple system is great because it requires the chicken to hit a trigger to release the water. If they don't hit it, it won't release and there is no cup or channel with water that can be splashed out or gotten dirty. The chicken's water stays fresh and clean.
Another benefit is, unlike the previous cup based automatic waterers, horizontal nipples will not freeze in cold weather, provided the reservoir has a heat source.
Features: simple flush design allows waterer to sit anywhere, can be used on multiple reservoirs (cooler, PVC pipe, 55 gallon rain barrell, etc), inexpensive, works with chickens of all ages
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 6 x 4 x 1 inches, Weight: 4.2 lbs
Pros:
- inexpensive
- will not freeze
- works on any size reservoir
- any size/age of chicken can use it
Cons:
- must provide reservoir and build yourself
- must train chickens to nipple
11. Little Giant King Size Automatic Poultry Fount (1.5 Quart) Heavy Duty Plastic Waterer Bowl with Hose Attachment
Description: Last, but not least, is the only true, completely automatic waterer.
You just connect a hose, set your preferred level using the adjustment nut, and it will keep your chickens watered indefinitely. It will hold up to 1 ½ quarts of water and will keep up to 250 chickens watered.
It does require a bit of effort up front, but can be worth it to not have to worry about refiling aver again. The reviews state that a lot of people will hook it to a PVC pipe and have water constantly flowing to it. Because it works on a pressure system, it will not overflow when the water reaches the appropriate height.
It is also not heated which can open things up to freezing. However, if freezing is not an issue in your area, this can be a perfect solution for your watering needs.
If roosting is an issue, you will need to purchase an additional bowl guard.
Features: constant water flow means never having to refill, connects to any standard half-inch NPT pipe, strong flow rate, high capacity of water can water up to 250 chickens
Specifications: Dimensions (L x W x H): 10 x 10 x 4 inches, Weight: 6.4 ounces
Pros:
- completely automatic means never having to refill
- large bowl can accommodate up to 250 adult birds
- made from durable heavy plastic
Cons:
- price
- need to purchase additional bowl guard if you want to avoid roosting
- may require additional plumbing if you do not want to use a hose
Why do you need a waterer?
Chickens, just like any living creature (humans included) need water to survive. The average chicken needs at least a pint of water a day. This amount can vary depending on the weather and temperature, as well.
Your chickens need a waterer so that they can have a constant supply of fresh, clean water whenever they need it.
Where should it go?
That really depends on your coop setup. If at all possible, it should go in their coop with them. Chickens get thirsty just like us and shouldn't have to go overnight without access to water.
If it is not possible to keep it in their coop, it should be in a location that is easily accessible for your flock. We like to keep our waterers elevated at least 6 inches from the ground to help keep dirt and debris from collecting.
What To Consider When Buying?
You've gone through the list and have several options. Now, how do you decide which are the best chicken waterers for you? Here are a few things to consider when making that choice.
Size
How big is the waterer in comparison to your coop. As we mentioned above, it is preferable to have the water inside the coop. If that isn't an option, how much space do you have available for their waterer?
Design
Do you want something that is as simple as a bowl on the ground? Would you like something that is a bit cleaner and doesn't need as much attention? Do you have enough time to make sure it is full every day?
These are some of the questions you'll need to answer when deciding on the appropriate design for you. An automatic waterer may fit your schedule better than a bowl or a gravity waterer.
Flock Size
How big is your flock? If you only have 3 or 4 chickens, you may not need an automatic waterer capable of watering 250 chickens. A bowl may work just fine (cleanliness aside).
If you have a medium sized flock, you may want to pick out a 5 gallon waterer instead of a 3 gallon. This can save you a day or so between refilling times.
Heating
Do you want your waterer to be heated? If you live in a warmer climate, this isn't an issue. But if you live in an area where temperatures can dip below freezing, you'll find out quickly that breaking up frozen waters is no fun.
You can buy self heating waterers or standard waterers with an additional heated base.
Material
How and with what the waterer is made is also an important factor. The two primary materials used in waterers are metal and plastic
Metal
Metal tends to be sturdier and last longer than plastic waterers. However, they are also much more expensive and can rust. Even the galvanized steel waterers that claim to not rust can show rust under the right conditions; like hard water, for example.
But, if you have a particularly rowdy flock or a flock protecting dog that likes to chew things, a strong and durable metal waterer may be exactly what you need.
Plastic
Plastic waterers are almost always less expensive than metal ones. They can be a bit more fragile, especially in cold weather. But, with the proper care, they can last a really long time and save you a ton of money. Especially if you have a waterer that can hang, your chickens are less likely to be able to destroy it.
Ease Of Use
Finally, how easy it is to maintain is possibly the most important factor. Depending on which waterer you pick it may need to be refilled often. You will want this to be an easy task.
Even waterers that don't need refilling will need to be cleaned. You will want t waterer that is easy to disassemble, but also, and more importantly, easy to reassemble. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a nice waterer only to clean it and not be able to reassemble it without it leaking
Conclusion
There you have it! Our full review of the best chicken waterers. Here's to a happy flock of well hydrated chickens!
