[BML]

I only recently started to keep chickens and only have three and was suprised to see how much water they drink.  I understand that they can drink between one and two pints of water a day.
I currently have a one and a half gallon container but wonder where I could obtain a larger one.

[Lewjam]

1 and a half gallon should last you a day easy.... my three large hens only get through a third of a 3 litre container…

Do you have allot of chooks?  If not are you sure they are not splashing it around or knocking it over?

[joyfull]

why not have more than one drinker?

[Derculees]

Do they get out of the coop?, just a thought, or are they drinking out of boredom.
Peeps are known to do this, apologies if I sound a bit flippant, I'm just getting my
10 posts in. I fill 'ours' with fresh every other morning - only 2 girls, don't need 2 galls

[joyfull]

the coop is just the house for sleeping and laying in and they do not need water in there, the water should be in the run 

[joyfull]

Do they get out of the coop?, just a thought, or are they drinking out of boredom.
Peeps are known to do this, apologies if I sound a bit flippant, I'm just getting my10 posts in. I fill 'ours' with fresh every other morning - only 2 girls, don't need 2 galls

Why are you trying to speed up getting 10 posts?

[Derculees]

Hi Joyfull, I was meaning the 'coop' in its entirity which is as it was advertised, and how I
came to purchase it, perhaps I should have read the small print - coop with 'run'
aha you got me, 
secondly I wanted 10 posts to be able to write to you and ask why my photo hasn't been
accepted, I thought it was quite amusing.
Apologies to BML for digressing from the original watering problem

[Lindeggs]

Derclees, congratulations on reaching 11 posts! 

BML, I second the suggestion of getting a second waterer rather than one big one.  It's always possible to have an accident with a water container getting tipped or dirtied, so having a second container is a good insurance policy.

And yes, chickens do drink a lot!  I suppose if you think about the huge egg they lay each day (relative to their body size) and the egg is mostly water, it's not surprising that they have to drink a lot.  But it still amazes me.

[BML]

Yes oh pdeantic one I should have said the run and another water holder is a good idea.  However, all I can find are plastic ones.  Can anyone point me towards the old fashioned metal ones?

[joyfull]

if your local feed merchants don't sell the metal ones you could try here:-

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/categories/galvanised-drinkers-c430.html

although I have several 12 litre plastic ones rather than the metal ones like these:-

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/categories/plastic-drinkers-c436.html

 

[joyfull]

Derculees - what photo and where was it to be posted?

[rachelr]

lok for local auctions we found one of the metal ones in there. However, I have since gone to small bcukets and washing up bowels. three washing up bowls are just £5 where as the metal one cost me a tenner from the auction.

Not to out do it but you can get the metal ones from some of the suppliers advertised on here.

good luck.
ps if they are knocking them over you can put sumat like a brick in the water. I use frozen plastic bottles of water xxx

[Derculees]

Yes oh pdeantic one I should have said the run and another water holder is a good idea.  However, all I can find are plastic ones.  Can anyone point me towards the old fashioned metal ones?

Hi BML, another good helpful site: www.Regencypoultry.com

I got a galvanised one with glass jar from them, I also got a nasty plastic one to add
cider vinegar to

[BML]

Many thanks for all your replies which I have to say are reminding me that keeping chickens is not a simple task.

Regretable I have another few questions.
1.  Cider vineger.  What for and how much?
2.  I have a small door to let the chickens into the chicken house.  Should that be closed at night as we move into winter?
3.  Is it worth while putting a small light into the chicken house or even a heater?
4.  One of the birds is still laying its eggs on the floor.  Is there any chance it will learn to get up into the nestting boxes?

[rachelr]

1. cider vinegar is worth using but there are divided opinions on how useful it is.
2. The chicken door should be shut year round once they have gone to bed. This is to make sure they are safe from foxes/rodents etc.
3. I have one who lays as she walks around the garden these are called dog treats lol. I cant answer for every one but some hens learn and others dont
I hope some one else will be along with another opinion xxxx