Best Water Bowl for New Coop

[Amy Weaver]

Right now, we have a small coop and run, so we use nipple waterers, but when the girls are out of the run, I provide large bowls of water and they love it. When we get our larger coop at the end of September, how do I use large bowls of water without them constantly getting dirty. As I type this, it seems like a silly question, but I want to get their food and water system right when they get their new home.

 

[CluckerFamily]

For years I used the nipples and a bucket in my coop. For the last two years, I changed to a 7 gallon chicken waterer. In the winter, I use a heater base that the waterer sits on, this turned out to be the perfect height off the ground so that the water didn't get dirty. In the non-winter months, I put the waterer on a cement stone/block for that same height. You could try something like this in your run now to play with the height.

 

[Amy Weaver]

For years I used the nipples and a bucket in my coop. For the last two years, I changed to a 7 gallon chicken waterer. In the winter, I use a heater base that the waterer sits on, this turned out to be the perfect height off the ground so that the water didn't get dirty. In the non-winter months, I put the waterer on a cement stone/block for that same height. You could try something like this in your run now to play with the height.

We live in Vermont, so a warmer will be necessary. Do you mind telling me what kind you have? I also like the non-winter months idea. Getting the right height shouldn't be too difficult. Thank you!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have this waterer: Little Giant


And this heat base: K&H Deicer

 

[GC-Raptor]

When we get our larger coop at the end of September, how do I use large bowls of water without them constantly getting dirty.

I wouldn't put bowls of water inside the coop.
They'll get messy quickly and splashing of water will make for wet bedding.
I use a galvanized waterer in my coops, a 2 and a 3 gallon.
They are set on a heated base in the winter. Electricity required. This model has 125 watts of power.

It has kept water from freezing at -1F with a 3 gallon waterer.

It's important to keep a clean contact between waterer and base. Shavings, dirt, poop and sand between base and waterer won't allow max heat transfer and water may freeze. GC

 

[blackdog043]

I use a 14 gallon drum with 8 nipples around it. In the winter I use a 250 watt stock tank deicer. I rinse it out twice a year. In the warmer months I use the hose to top it off and during winter I use gallon milk jugs every other day. Below is a link to my build, I started with a 5 gallon bucket.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/