Poultry Nipple Drinker heated

This 3 gallon, thermostatically-controlled poultry nipple drinker is my preferred drinker for my chickens.

Water is the driving force of all nature -Leonardo da Vinci  

Chickens cannot be healthy if they are drinking dirty water. A poultry nipple drinker is the best way to deliver consistently clean water to chickens of all ages. 

Why Water is Critically Important to Chickens

For Metabolism

“Water is involved in every aspect of poultry metabolism. It plays important roles in regulating body temperature, digesting food, and eliminating body wastes. At normal temperatures, poultry consume at least twice as much water as feed. When heat stress occurs, water consumption will double or quadruple.”

The Essential Nutrient

“Water is often taken for granted, and yet it is probably the most essential nutrient. Water is by far the single greatest constituent of the body, and, in general, represents about 70% of total body weight. Access to water is very important, and a lack of water for several hours will probably cause a decline in egg production. Hens are more sensitive to a lack of water than a lack of feed.”

Chick Nipple Drinker

Chick poultry nipple drinkers keep the brooder dry and the water clean 100% of the time!

 

Amount of Water Needed

“Water and food consumption rates are interdependent, so reduced water intake can also lead to reduced food intake. There are other factors that affect water intake, with temperature being the most obvious one. For example, chickens drink between 30-50% more water when the environmental temperature is above 32oC compared with when it is 21oC. Water intake is also affected by the type of drinkers used. The rule of thumb for water intake is that water intake is usually 1.5 to 2 times feed intake.”

 

For Digestion

“Water in the crop softens the feed so that digestion can occur. Without the water, dry feed forms clumps in the crop that can press on the bird’s carotid artery, decreasing blood flow to the brain. This can cause paralysis and possible death. Poultry anatomy complicates matters. A split in the upper hard palate of the beak allows air into the nasal passages and prevents the chicken from forming a vacuum in its mouth. Hens, therefore, rely on gravity to draw water into the crop.”

Why Water is Critically Important to Chickens

As my flock has grown in size and number, so have the number and size of waterers I have tried. Small, 1 or 2 gallon, opaque waterers allow sunlight to pass through, which causes algae and biofilm growth and they require filling frequently. Not convenient, and slimy water does not support chicken health.

For Egg Production

An egg consists of approximately 75% water and without access to a regular, clean supply of water, a hen will be physically unable to produce eggs.

With baby chicks, I find that raising the waterer up from the floor with a block of wood or cookie tin keeps the water cleaner longer. They will eventually learn to climb on top of the waterer and a large, upside-down funnel works to discourage that behavior.

Keeping water liquid during freezing temperatures is a major challenge that must be met as chickens’ feed consumption increases in the cold and they require water to digest it. I made several cookie tin water heaters, for less than $10 each, which work well in a pinch, but the heated, 3 gallon poultry nipple drinker is my preferred water delivery method, by far.

cookie tin water heater

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

shop my SPONSORS

Poultry Nipple Drinker heated

This 3 gallon, thermostatically-controlled poultry nipple drinker is my preferred drinker for my chickens.

Water is the driving force of all nature -Leonardo da Vinci  

Chickens cannot be healthy if they are drinking dirty water. A poultry nipple drinker is the best way to deliver consistently clean water to chickens of all ages. 

Why Water is Critically Important to Chickens

For Metabolism

“Water is involved in every aspect of poultry metabolism. It plays important roles in regulating body temperature, digesting food, and eliminating body wastes. At normal temperatures, poultry consume at least twice as much water as feed. When heat stress occurs, water consumption will double or quadruple.”

The Essential Nutrient

“Water is often taken for granted, and yet it is probably the most essential nutrient. Water is by far the single greatest constituent of the body, and, in general, represents about 70% of total body weight. Access to water is very important, and a lack of water for several hours will probably cause a decline in egg production. Hens are more sensitive to a lack of water than a lack of feed.”

Chick Nipple Drinker

Chick poultry nipple drinkers keep the brooder dry and the water clean 100% of the time!

 

Amount of Water Needed

“Water and food consumption rates are interdependent, so reduced water intake can also lead to reduced food intake. There are other factors that affect water intake, with temperature being the most obvious one. For example, chickens drink between 30-50% more water when the environmental temperature is above 32oC compared with when it is 21oC. Water intake is also affected by the type of drinkers used. The rule of thumb for water intake is that water intake is usually 1.5 to 2 times feed intake.”

 

For Digestion

“Water in the crop softens the feed so that digestion can occur. Without the water, dry feed forms clumps in the crop that can press on the bird’s carotid artery, decreasing blood flow to the brain. This can cause paralysis and possible death. Poultry anatomy complicates matters. A split in the upper hard palate of the beak allows air into the nasal passages and prevents the chicken from forming a vacuum in its mouth. Hens, therefore, rely on gravity to draw water into the crop.”

Why Water is Critically Important to Chickens

As my flock has grown in size and number, so have the number and size of waterers I have tried. Small, 1 or 2 gallon, opaque waterers allow sunlight to pass through, which causes algae and biofilm growth and they require filling frequently. Not convenient, and slimy water does not support chicken health.

For Egg Production

An egg consists of approximately 75% water and without access to a regular, clean supply of water, a hen will be physically unable to produce eggs.

With baby chicks, I find that raising the waterer up from the floor with a block of wood or cookie tin keeps the water cleaner longer. They will eventually learn to climb on top of the waterer and a large, upside-down funnel works to discourage that behavior.

Keeping water liquid during freezing temperatures is a major challenge that must be met as chickens’ feed consumption increases in the cold and they require water to digest it. I made several cookie tin water heaters, for less than $10 each, which work well in a pinch, but the heated, 3 gallon poultry nipple drinker is my preferred water delivery method, by far.

cookie tin water heater
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
141 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joli
11 years ago

Just needed to get a bigger water bucket, luckily it was on sale :)

Kathy Mormino, the Chicken Chick™
Reply to  Joli
11 years ago

I love a good sale. Good for you!

June
11 years ago

I make a habit to change water twice a day for my gals…and have a thermometer in the pen to pay attention to the temp. I did locate the coop and pen under trees so in the summer they are in the shade and then in the winter with the leaves off the trees they can get some heat from the sun. :) Off to change water again…. :)

Kathy Mormino, the Chicken Chick™
Reply to  June
11 years ago

Good for you, June. That's one way to keep healthy, happy chickens.

Smokindawg
11 years ago

I keep about 4 different water buckets available on the property for the chickens….

Brandi
Brandi
11 years ago

ducks r a pain to keep with chickens they just play in the water-so fill fill fill is all i can do on hot summer days! I tried to seperate my ducks from my chickens but all they did was pout by the fence chickens laying on one side ducks on the other until i finally gave in and let them reunite-pathetic i tell u-but once a flock is raised together they stick together-and get there way together!

Kathy Mormino, the Chicken Chick™
Reply to  Brandi
11 years ago

LOL Brandi! Silly ducks. I wonder if using nipple waterers would help or if the chickens would still try to drink from the ducks' water?

Alexis
Alexis
11 years ago

I love the cookie tin water heater idea. I will be using that this winter! You always have such interesting tips and ideas!

Kathy Mormino, the Chicken Chick™
Reply to  Alexis
11 years ago

Thank you Alexis. :)

1 5 6 7 8 9 17