We purchased our first hen about 5 years ago. Like many first time chicken owners we went all out, built a huge coop and really didn’t know what we were getting into. Our first purchase was 9 chicks; then we went to 12. A year later we were sitting at over 18 chickens.
We have had a lot of good experiences and bad, including a really rough attack from a dog. The hardest part for us has been keeping the coup clean and free from extra birds. Luckily there are some great watering options to help you keep your coop clean while keeping your extra work to a minimum.
What makes a good chicken waterer?
Function
Does the waterer work well? Does it do what it is supposed to do and deliver water to chickens when they need it? Is it easy for chickens to figure out?
Water storage
How much water does the water storage and delivery system hold? A chicken waterer can have the best delivery mechanism, but if it doesn’t store any water you will either need a dozen waterers or you will have to go out multiple times per day.
Delivery mechanism
Does the water come out a little at a time? Does it use a timer? Does the chicken have to peck for the water to come out? How the waterer delivers the water is very crucial.
Cost
Chicken waterers can cost just a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. To some cost doesn’t matter, but to most of us we can only spend so much.
Longevity
Are the waterers reliable? Are they made of good materials? How long can you use the waterer before having to do maintenance or replacement?
Critters
Does the chicken watering device keep away mice and birds, or is it just free game for whatever comes? Some devices such as the nipples take a lot of practice that is rarely found in animals that just pass by the coop.
Top Chicken Waterers to Buy in 2021
| Product | Features |
|---|---|
RentACoop Automatic Waterer | |
RentACoop Nipple Waterer | |
Double Wall Poultry Drinker  | |
Farm Innovators HB-60P | |
LITTLE GIANT Plastic Waterer | |
Harris Farms Poultry Drinker | |
Farm Innovators Model HPF-100 | |
Harris Farms Cup-A-Water |
RentACoop Automatic Chicken Waterer
This 5 gallon Rentacoop waterer has a great new autofill mechanism. The red watering cups work as its own valve. When the water level gets low the cup tips and then fills itself. When the cup has refilled itself, it falls back down and the valve shuts off.
Chickens like this waterer and catch on to it quickly. Firstly, the red color gets the chickens attention. Second, the chickens can keep cool because their wattles get wet while drinking. This helps the chickens stay cooler in the hot summer months. It is easy to fill the waterer with a hose through the top with the easy access hose cap.
RentACoop 5 Gallon Nipple Waterer
The RentaCoop 5 gallon waterer is one of the best nipple chicken waterers out there. Nipple waterers work when the chickens peck at a little metal nipple that sits on the outside of the container. Chicken nipple waterers like this take a little time for the chickens to figure out compared to some of the other waterers.
This waterer is designed very well, with an opening in the top to easily fill the waterer up with a hose. The waterer has a cute white plastic top that keeps the chickens from landing on top of it.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Hose-fillable
- Well built
Cons:
- Nipples take a while to catch on with chickens
- Carrying strap is not very sturdy
- Roof doesn’t lock in tightly
Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker
Many poultry drinkers are made of galvanized metal, including the Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker. It works by first filling the center water container, and then it uses vacuum pressure with the double wall to deliver water on demand for the chickens. The ebst part of this is the water filling works automatically. The Harris Farms Drinker is available in both 2 and 5 gallon sizes so that it can be ready for your flock.
Pros:
- Easy to fill
- Easy to clean
- Chickens freely drink
Cons:
- Water can easily spill
- Other birds and animals may drink
Farm Innovators HB-60P
It would be nice if all of us live in Florida. Unfortunately most of our winters are not like Florida, and depending on where you live can get cold….really cold. Farm innovators have created a great 2 gallon poultry drinker that has a 3 side mounted and freeze-free nipples that is good all year round.
While most chicken waterers require a secondary heat source, this one comes with a 60-watt heater. Just like with other nipple waterers, getting chickens to use the waterer takes a little time, but it is very clean and keeps the little birds away.
Pros:
- Can be hung or placed on the ground
- Easy to fill
- Chickens freely drink
Con:
- Only holds 2 gallons
Little Giant Plastic Poultry Waterer
This Little Giant Poultry Waterer is a great basic waterer. It is made of heavy duty plastic and has a wide mouth opening that can be closed with a cap, making it easy to fill. With a vacuum sealing o-ring, this Little Giant Plastic Waterer will make sure that your chickens always have the right amount of water.
Generally I prefer metal to plastic waterers, but this one is made of thick plastic to make it long lasting. The jar snaps into the base making it a really simple assembly.
Pros:
- Nice handle makes it easier to move
- Large filling opening
- Chickens freely drink
Cons:
- Can be hard to carry if full
- Not great at keeping wild birds away
Harris Farms Plastic Poultry Drinker
This is a simple but effective automatic waterer. Depending on your flock size and how often you want to water, this waterer is available in 5 quarts and 3.5 gallons. Harris makes an affordable option for your flock, no matter how many chickens you have.
Made of a semi-transparent plastic, this waterer makes it easy to see the water level. It’s easy to assemble with a click-lock base.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Chickens freely drink
Cons:
- Not made of sturdy plastic
- Not great at keeping wild birds away
- Can be break easily
Farm Innovators Model HPF-100
This is another year round waterer that combines multiple great functions in one waterer. The waterer can store 3 gallons of water and has an integrated heater. The heater works with an automatic thermostat that keeps the water from freezing only when necessary.
This waterer must be filled upside down and then flipped in order to keep from spilling. This can be a little tricky to do with 3 gallons, but it is still functional.
Pros:
- Works year round
- Heats only when necessary with thermostat
- Easy for chickens to drink
Cons:
- Somewhat difficult to fill
- Can’t keep wild birds away
Ware Manufacturing Hanging Chicken Canteen
This unique waterer may be exactly what your coop is looking for. The hanging chicken canteen is good looking and can help keep your coop looking clean and nice. It is easy for chickens to use this waterer and has as striking look. The main downfall of this waterer is the low water volume that it holds. To water a large flock with the canteen will take quite a few. Although this waterer is not for everyone, it is easy to use and can be put anywhere.
Pros:
- Easy to mount
- Easy to fill
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Holds a small amount of water
- Expensive for size
Harris Farms 1000310 Cup-A-Water Drinker
One of the original auto waterers, the Harris Farms 4 gallon poultry drinker is fairly easy for the chickens to figure out. It comes with 2 watering cups as well as 2 pre-drilled holes where you can easily insert the cups. Our chickens only took a few minutes to figure out how to use this. To speed up the process I’d recommend pressing on the yellow water filler a few times until the chickens figure it out.
Overall, this Harris waterer does what it is supposed to do. It keeps watering mess to a minimum and is easy to set up. I wish they would have designed a hose fill into the top of it, but this still is a great waterer.
Dimenions:Around 8″ X 14″ X 13″ and 2.5 pounds
Pros:
- Easy to Assemble
- Drinking cups are red
- Chickens catch on fast
Cons:
- Hard to carry when full
- Only comes with two cups
FAQs
How much water does a chicken need each day?
Chickens drink between 1/2 a liter per day up to almost a liter per day in the hot summer months.
How do you clean a chicken waterer?
Chicken waterers can be cleaned with anything about that you would clean your dishes. A rag and dish soap are perfect to clean a chicken waterer. If you don’t clean them they will develop algae or other problems. Do not use strong chemicals as they can be harmful to chickens.
What materials are good for a chicken waterer?
You want to use food safe materials for chickens. Most of the time safe plastics or galvanized steel are used.
