A chicken that goes without water for half a day lays less and quickly overheats in warm weather. A drinker that is big enough and stays clean is therefore the most important piece of equipment in the run. This collection includes Gaun drinker towers from 1 to 40 litres, with or without legs, galvanised and plastic drinking buckets, a drinking bowl for self-assembly and the Gaun heated drinker.
Which capacity suits your flock?
| Capacity | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| 1 to 1.5 litres | Chicks, a broody hen kept apart or a second drinking spot |
| 3 to 5 litres | A small hobby flock that you check daily |
| 6 to 12 litres | Larger hobby flocks or if you do not top up every day |
| 20 to 40 litres | Large flocks in the yard or a weekend away |
If in doubt, go a size up: chickens drink noticeably more on hot days. In a flock with a strict pecking order, two smaller drinkers in different places are often better than one large one. Help choosing by flock size is on drinkers for 2 to 4 chickens and drinkers for 5 or more chickens.
Design: legs, bucket or heated
A drinker tower on legs stands slightly off the ground, so less bedding and sand gets into the drinking channel. A drinking bucket with a removable or replaceable reservoir is easy to fill with a garden hose. Galvanised steel is heavy and sturdy; plastic is light, does not rust and is easy to scrub clean.
In winter, a heated drinker stops the water from freezing. Such a drinker does need a power socket or outdoor connection nearby, and the cable must run out of reach of pecking beaks.
Points to note
Never place a drinker in full sun, because warm water quickly turns murky and green. Empty and clean the reservoir at least weekly, more often in warm weather. Place it on a level surface, or it will empty unevenly. A drinker right next to the feeder quickly fills with feed residue; a few metres' distance helps.
Back to the full overview: everything for your chickens. Also handy: chicken feed and the chicken coop and run.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a chicken drinker be?
Big enough to last at least a day, even on a hot day. For a small flock, 3 to 5 litres is usual; larger flocks choose 10 litres or more.
How do I stop the drinking water from freezing?
Use a heated drinker plugged into a socket, or refresh an ordinary drinker with lukewarm water several times a day.
How often should I clean the drinker?
At least once a week, and more often in warm weather. Refresh the water daily if it becomes murky.
What is the advantage of a drinker on legs?
The drinking channel sits higher, so less sand and bedding ends up in the water.