Chickens, unlike other animals, get dehydrated more often due to the kind of feeds they consume. Usually, they feed on dry feeds which make them very thirst frequently.
It is therefore essential to have water at hand for easy access whenever they feel like drinking.
Having water at hand can only be achieved if you have the best chicken drinker that fits the number of your flocks and their age.
Since there are very many different kinds of chicken waterers in the market, it would be challenging for you to make a sound decision in selecting what suits your chickens. Mainly if you are a beginner in rearing chickens, you might need a hand to take you through buying what would be the best.
If you have experience in chicken rearing, you might also need to look through this review since there might be something new for you.
Top 6 Chicken Waterers
|
Product Name |
Capacity – Gallons |
Material Used |
Editor’s Rating |
|
Farm Innovators Model HPF-100 |
3 |
Plastic |
3.3* |
|
Harris Farms 1000267 Poultry Waterer |
6.25 |
Plastic |
3.4* |
|
RentACoop Chicken Waterer |
2 |
Plastic |
4.4* |
|
RentACoop 12 Pack Make Your Own Waterer Kit |
N/A |
Plastic |
4.4* |
|
RentACoop Chicken Waterer – Horizontal Side Mounted Nipples |
5 |
Plastic |
4.3* |
|
BAFX Products – Chicken Waterer with 4 Nipples |
2 |
Plastic |
3.5* |
#1 (Editor’s Choice)RentACoop 2-Gallon Chicken Drinker
The waterer is made from 100 percent food grade plastic which is BPA free. The waterer has the latest innovation in having horizontal nipples that prevent leakage. The top has a design that prevents the chickens from roosting on it and therefore keeping the water and the container clean.
You can hang the waterer to the height of your chickens to prevent the chickens trying to roost on it
The waterer does not need any assembling. All you need to do is to place the waterer on an elevated surface so that the nipples can have their space. Filling the waterer is also easy, and all you need to do is to remove the cap on the lid and fill it up through the hole with a hose or a jug.
The 5-gallon waterer can water four hens for about ten days if the weather is right.
PROS
- Made from 100% high-quality plastic BPA free
- Elevated nipples for comfortable drinking
- No assembling required
- Easy fill
- Easy clean with removable top
CONS
- Hard to pry-off the lid open
#2 Farm Innovators Model HPF-100
From household name manufacturers Model HPF-100 is a plastic waterer that you can use for your chickens even in the coldest season. The heating innovation with this waterer makes it popular among chicken farmers.
The waterer has a thermostat which you can use to control it so that you can have it on when necessary to prevent water from freezing. This is the best chicken heating waterer to use for all seasons.
You don’t have to worry about power billing since it uses 100 watts of power to notice its usage in your power bill. Again, you won’t need to heat it throughout the time. When the weather is not cold, you will use it as a regular waterer.
The HPF-100 is big enough to hold three gallons of water that can quench several birds without going dry.
When in need of refilling it, all you need to do is turn it upside down, and you don’t have to remove the top, but you can use a hosepipe or a jug to refill through the inlet hole designed for the purpose.
Use it on a dry, sheltered area away from the wind for durability.
PROS
- Holds 3-gallons of water
- Waters chickens throughout the season
- Refills without removing the top
- Can be hanged or placed on any surface
- The electrical cord is long enough
- Thermostatically controlled
CONS
- The filler hole should have been placed on the top
#3 Harris Farms 1000267 Poultry Drinker 6.25 Gallon
Harris Farms is a manufacturer of household chicken equipment and can be trusted with this plastic waterer as well.
The feeder can quench thirst 100 chickens comfortably without running dry with the water content of 6.25 gallons of water. It is durable since it is made from high-grade plastic.
Unlike many other drinkers that are refilled when holding them upside down, this particular one has a modern design to refill from the top without risking spilling water while refilling. The top-refill bucket has a float in the base to make sure you fill water to the rim.
You can use the waterer inside the coop or outside in your backyard. It does not limit you where to locate it.
The good thing about this waterer is that you can use it all season since you can integrate it with Harris Farms Heated Poultry Waterer Base which you have to purchase separately.
It is easy to fill it and easy to clean it. It has a handle that you can use to move it about or use it to innovate your way of hanging it.
PROS
- 100 birds can drink from it comfortably
- Durable waterer constructed from high-quality plastic
- Filled through the top of the bucket
- Easy to clean
- Has a handle to carry it around
CONS
- The waterer overflows if you don’t close it tightly.
#4 RentACoop 12 Pack Make Your Own Drinker Kit
You don’t need to wonder how to fix this drinker. If you like it, go for it. It is an easy do-it-yourself kit that gives you freedom of creating your watering system the way you want it. It comes with simple to understand instructions that will make it you an expert to fix it.
You will need to connect the kit to a PVC pipe or use it with any container. The bigger the container, the better it will be for you to keep you from refilling it now and then.
With this kind of innovation, there will be no more bucket hanging. The simple-to-install and easy-to-use automatic chicken waterer will be a relief to you and comfort to your flock. You need to have a nipple for every four chickens.
Once you set it up by connecting it to a source, the automatic chicken waterer will refill itself whenever necessary. The best thing with this type of a drinker is that your chicken will always have fresh water on demand.
However, you need to measure the nipple before drilling a hole on your barrel or gallon to get exact measurements. If you don’t do that, you will end up having a wider hole than the nipple by following the wrong measurements given in the instructions. Such a mistake would result in having a leaking nipple.
PROS
- It is automatic refiller
- Freshwater on demand
- Simple to install
- Easy to use
- Simple to understand instructions
CONS
- Wrong measurement instructions for drilling a hole
#5 RentACoop 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer – Horizontal Side Mounted Nipples
RentACoop 5-gallon chicken drinker is BPA free made from100% food grade plastic. It has four horizontal side-mounted nipples with a 5-gallon reservoir that can last four chickens for ten days before the next cleaning and refill.
The waterer which does not require any setup has a removable lid and a removable cap on the cover for easy refill.
Unlike other waterers that you should turn upside-down for a refill, this waterer is different since you refill it from the top.
The RentACoop 5-gallon drinker is sturdy and durable that can endure weather extremes when you have it on your yard. The container is an on-demand waterer that will always be ready to water the chickens whenever they need it.
All you have to do is to elevate it on a higher surface but at the reach of the chickens. Next, fill it up with water through the hole on the lid once you remove the cap on it.
The horizontal nipples at the center of every side of the container would be able to water your chickens comfortably if you have the container at the right height.
PROS
- Sturdy and durable food-grade BPA-free plastic
- Four bright red horizontal nipples ready to dispense water
- Does not require setup
- Enough water to last four chickens ten days
- Removable top cap for easy water refilling
- Removable lid for easy cleaning
- Nipples don’t leak
CONS
- The cover too tight for the fingers to pry it open
#6 BAFX Products – 2-Gallon Chicken Waterer with 4 Nipples
BAFX chicken waterer is a 2-gallon bucket that has four water nipples that have been drilled at its bottom. It is made of plastic.
The water nipple technology will be a comfort to your chickens. They will quickly take to it once they realize the purpose of this strange bucket.
It has a lid that does not close too tight to pry it open. It has a water filling hole covered with an easy to remove rubber stopper. The best way to place the bucket is by hanging it at the height of your chickens where they can reach the water comfortably.
Open the rubber stopper of the filling hole and fill the bucket with water either using a hosepipe or a jug. Place back the rubber stopper to protect the water from getting dusty.
Training your chickens to use is also easy. First, you need to remove the current waterer from the coop. Give the chickens a bit of time for them to become thirsty. Introduce your BAFX bucket to them with already filled water.
Bring one chicken closer to the bucket and then tap the nipple to release water. You can go a step further by directing its beak on the nipple. Once this one chicken starts drinking from the nipple, the rest will follow suit.
PROS
- No setup required
- Easy to clean
- Easy to remove rubber stopper when refilling
- Easy to open the lid when cleaning
CONS
- Can easily spoil the nipples when putting it down
- The top does not close well
Buyer’s Guide
Buying a chicken waterer can be complicated even though it would seem very simple to do it. Without having a procedural guide, you might end up buying unsuitable one for your flock.
Here are a few factors you need to consider before setting up your mind on a particular chicken waterer.
Material and Design
A chicken waterer can either be in plastic or galvanized steel. However, in both of this material, you should check on their quality.
For instance, the plastic material can be harmful if it is not food-grade and BPA free. Others made from low-quality plastic will soon enough start growing algae making water unfit for the chickens.
Again, poor quality of galvanized steel can rust or corrode to contaminate the water.
Check the quality of the waterer whether it is plastic of galvanized steel.
The design is another issue you should carefully pay attention. Some hanging chicken waterers sit upside down such that after refilling water, you have to turn it so that you can hang it.
Such kind of a chicken waterer risks pouring water leaving your chickens drenched and waterless.
Be keen to pay attention to the design of the waterer as well.
Size
The number of your flock will determine the size of your chicken waterer. Also, go for a waterer that can go for several days without refilling to ease you that burden.
Due to the kind of feeds chickens eat, they get dehydrated very quickly, and therefore water is vital for their growth and egg production.
The size of the chicken waterer should be enough for every chicken to access it whenever the need for water arises. Chicken crowding at a waterer cannot serve them appropriately. The weaker and the little ones can go without water for a long time when crowding.
If you are flock is of small chicks, you need to go for a small shallow waterer to avoid drowning accidents.
Technology
Technology is another vital factor you should consider while searching for the best chicken waterer. Some automatic chicken waterers can take away the burden of water refilling off your shoulders.
Take, for instance, the nipple waterers such as the ones you connect directly to a water source. As long as there is water, it will keep on giving your chickens water without having to refill. The only responsibility you will have is keeping them clean.
Others have heating technology which becomes handy in the winter when the water freezes. Having the best-heated chicken waterer will continue serving your chicken despite the season.
Safety
Consider the safety of your chickens when choosing your chicken waterer. A deep trough waterer for small chicks would be unfit and dangerous to them. They can drown if they accidentally fall inside while trying to drink water.
For the hanging chicken waterers, check whether the hanging handle or chain is strong enough to take the weight. It would be dangerous if the handle breaks and the heavyweight falls on some of your flocks.
Your intuition will let you realize a waterer that can cause danger and therefore you should avoid it. Be cautious when making your choice.
Price
Always check on the price tag of your selected chicken waterer to weigh whether it is worth the price or not. You will be able to consider the features, the design, and the material of the unit to know whether it is rightly-priced.
When you are comfortable with the price and everything else about your choice, then you have made the right decision. Go for it and buy it.
Final Verdict
This part is the last bit of walking with you through the best chicken waterers reviews in the above list and the buying guide. We have also highlighted their features, the pros, and the cons.
You should by now have made up your mind what is most suitable for your flocks. Nevertheless, the reviews wouldn’t be justifiable if there wasn’t the final verdict by choosing the No. 1 of the best six chicken waterers in this review. Therefore, the top best chicken waterer among the ones reviewed is RentACoop 12 Pack Make Your Own Waterer Kit.
Check it out once again to find out why it has found its place at the top of the best chicken waterers reviewed. The features, the customers’ reviews, and ratings, and the price tag are the reasons for making it to the top of the list.
If you don’t agree with this selection, you are free to make your pick. Would you mind sharing with us your choice and the reason for your choice?
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