Official BYC Poll: How often do you change your chickens' water in hot weather?

[ShayKayTay]

I have 8 chickens and 1 duck. I have two 2 gallon buckets and a medium size kiddie pool in the run. My girls free range during the day and periodically return to the run for water. I appreciate this thread for all the information. I don’t know why, but it didn’t even occur to me to add multiple water sources outside of the run so they don’t have to go all the way back to the run! Anyway, I work 12 hour shifts, so on work days, all water sources get change once in AM and once when I get home. On off days, I may change it more than that. My OCD won’t allow for going without cleaning them each time, but like many others with the joy of ducks, it’s just necessary!

 

[Claire65]

A very timely poll!

I keep a flock of 29 right now. Of course it can vary depending on losses and additions.

I use multiple open water dishes that hold a gallon each. I dump and refill 2 times a day year round actually. In winter I carry out warm water in the morning and again when I get home from work at 3 pm.
In summer it's easier since I can use the hose.
I scrub the dishes every Saturday to keep the chances of bacteria or slime down.

Of course summer brings treats from the garden of cabbage, swiss chard, cantaloupe, tomatoes, bell peppers and watermelon. It's not a daily treat but they certainly enjoy it.

We have multiple as well. During the summer we have a large umbrella to keep the running water cool. They love to have their feet in cool water too, so we'll water the grass down, or water down the concrete where our 'chicken porch' is (it used to be ours).

 

[Clementine2022]

I bought a kiddie pool. I put about 2-3 inches of water in it. I have picked up a few of my flock and placed them in the pool, I tossed their fav treat in. I wash it out every morning and replace the water. I can not get them to utilize it. What else can I do? The pool might become a dust bathe. Lol

 

[mingaling]

5 gal. bucket with 3 cups on it - constantly filled. When it's really hot out, I put half a bag of ice in first thing in the morning.

 

[Debbie292d]

Ours is a 5-gallon DYI nipple bucket. We never "change" it, but refill it when it gets almost empty. It lasts about a month for around 20 silkies.

When it's almost empty, we bring it in the house can clean the nipples and insides. We put about 1/2 teaspoon of RV water freshener in it and refill it. Hubby hauls it out to the coop, good for another month.

Up at the house on the other side of the yard, in the warm months we keep an icecream bucket of water in two places in the shade. Those may not get dumped and changed if June bugs are swimming on top of the water as they like those and I don't.

 

[Debbie292d]

I bought a kiddie pool. I put about 2-3 inches of water in it. I have picked up a few of my flock and placed them in the pool, I tossed their fav treat in. I wash it out every morning and replace the water. I can not get them to utilize it. What else can I do? The pool might become a dust bathe. Lol

Though mine always stay out in the rain (silkies) they won't walk in puddles, so I know they'd never step in pool. Perhaps a dust bath is a great idea though. In the shade they'd cool off in the dirt.

 

[dawg53]

I currently have 5 separate pens. I add an extra waterer in each pen when we have hot temps and change them out about every 3 days.

 

[DukesDucks]

Chickens, ducks, guinea fowl and peacocks. Water holders cleaned and filled every morning. Checked and refreshed as necessary after lunch. Emptied every evening. Depending on size of each group, 2 sources of water provided.

 

[Bawkbok]

Every few hours we replace and refresh, including ice cubes in hot weather. Although the water itself looks clean and probably is, we can see particulate matter on the surface, especially on windy days. They also get it dirty when scratching nearby in the run so there's that. Sand makes the water nasty.

 

[Kiki]

Twice a day every day.