Homemade Chicken Waterer

According to the University of Florida Agricultural Department, "Water plays a very important role in digestion and metabolism of poultry ... Water softens feed in the crop to prepare it for grinding in the gizzard." It is essential that chicken get plenty of fresh water each day, so most chicken farmers use some kind of automatic watering system to keep their chickens watered. If water is simply put into a bowl and given to the chickens, it will get knocked over or dirtied up quickly with dirt or feed.

  1. Hose Drip System

    • The hose drip method is the simplest method for watering chickens. Bend the last couple feet of a garden hose into a teardrop shape and secure the hose, end facing up, in the chicken pen. Poke a small hole in the hose at the bottom of the teardrop shape to allow a very small amount of water to drip out. Turn the faucet on very slowly until just a small drip comes out at a time. This works well as a temporary fix but is not recommended for long-term use because it will waste a lot of water over time.

    Bucket Chicken Waterer

    • A very widely used method of watering chickens is to find a bucket that has a tight-sealing lid, such as a 5-gallon paint bucket that has been thoroughly cleaned out. Get a flower pot drain pan or some other deep pan that is larger than your bucket by at least 5 or 6 inches and that is about 3 to 5 inches deep. Drill four to six 1/8- to 1/4-inch holes in the rim of the bucket with the lid on, about 2 inches from the top of the rim or just below the lid. Fill the bucket with water and put the lid on securely. Turn the bucket over into the pan to allow the water to start dripping out into the pan. The water level will only rise as high as the holes are so as the chickens drink, the water will drip from the bucket slowly.

    Chicken Waterers for Cold and Freezing Temperatures

    • To avoid frozen water in the winter, many farmers build a small wooden platform for the waterer and put a light bulb with an extension cord under the platform. The heat of the platform keeps the water at the bottom of the bucket warm enough to drain out of the holes as needed. When building the platform, ensure it is large enough for your chickens to climb up on and stand on while drinking, if necessary. Building a small ramp for the chickens to climb is recommended. In the middle of the platform, cut a 6-inch hole. This will allow you to get the light bulb closer to the pan--be sure to only use a metal pan for this kind of waterer--and for the heat of the bulb to keep the water thawed. If the hole isn't made, the heat of the lamp will be absorbed into the wood and it is possible the pan will not get warm enough to keep the water running.