What is the best waterer to use?

[Thechickentrainer1999]

I'm finishing up my coop I'm building and I've been wanting to order the chicken automatic drinking cups but when I go to amazon reviews, they have very poor reviews. What should I do? Is there anything better than the automatic drinking cups? Should I get an outdoor garden fountain? I don't want to use the nipples. One of mine hasn't been drinking enough from them. I'm looking for something that's easy to clean and something I don't have to clean everyday. Please help? Thanks.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hope you find some ideas here ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/feeders-waterers.26/

 

[WhiteWyan]

My current favorite way to water is to fill up a couple little kiddie pools. I think they are 3 1/2 ft in diameter and maybe 10" deep.
I place them in the shade and they last like 3-4 days and stay pretty clean. Only issue is leaves falling in, bugs crawling in... and algae. The water smells fine and is relatively clear by day 4.

 

[blackdog043]

I don't want to use the nipples. One of mine hasn't been drinking enough from them.

Just curious, how do you know this?
I only use horizontal nipples and don't pay attention to how much each of my 18 chickens drink.

 

[cholland]

I give mine a choice. I have one standard plastic hanging waterer. And I use the cup type. They really seem to prefer the cups.
I went with Royal Rooster brand. You can find them on Amazon. They are a little pricey, but had good reviews. I have been very happy with them.
I also used the pvc fitting they offer. Made plumbing easy.

 

[chickens really]

I have a huge plastic font up on Bricks during the summer and use rubber livestock bowls in the winter.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I give mine a choice. I have one standard plastic hanging waterer. And I use the cup type. They really seem to prefer the cups.
I went with Royal Rooster brand. You can find them on Amazon. They are a little pricey, but had good reviews. I have been very happy with them.
I also used the pvc fitting they offer. Made plumbing easy.

I wanted to try a different waterer too. Right now I currently have your standard run of the mill plastic hanging waterer but I want to try the water cup as well..... but I was afraid they might get too confused and their little pea brains might play out like this :

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

Just curious, how do you know this?
I only use horizontal nipples and don't pay attention to how much each of my 18 chickens drink.

One has been getting dehydrated and drinks a ton when I let her out in the evening but now I use a manual waterer and it has helped.

 

[cholland]

I have heard others say they monitored the water use and it was the same when using a nipple system vs the hanging water bucket.

Also the cup would probably be subject to freezing. I don't really have that problem so they work for me. I understand horizontal nipples work well in freezing temps. But again it barely gets below freezing here, so I don't have much experience with everything icing up.

 

[berryann]

The pvc pipe chicken waterer is one of the best chicken waterers in the market. This waterer is the most durable, convenient and comes in a unique design. You can easily get this from eBay.