If you’re looking for an easy-to-build and easy-to-maintain chicken watering system, here’s a list specifically created to keep your flock hydrated!
RELATED: Raising Chickens In Your Homestead | The Ultimate Guide
Chicken Watering System to Keep Your Flock Happy
DIY Chicken Watering System
When you choose to raise chickens on your homestead you’re required to invest in a couple of things. One thing you will need is a chicken coop that serves as a territory for the hens to lay eggs.
Another thing you will need is a watering station. You can physically keep the station brimming with water constantly or you can make an automatic watering station.
Here are 10 easy-to-build automatic chicken watering system ideas for you to choose from!
1. Homemade Chicken Waterer for Less Than $2
If you’re just getting started and short of cash in the meantime. This homemade chicken watering station is your perfect solution.
Grab a 9″ pan, and #10 can (1-gallon can) or any durable container. Put 2 holes, 1 each on opposite sides of your can that’s about an inch up from the open end. Ensure the holes are lower than the lip of the cake pan you’re putting it in.
Simply fill up the can with water and put the can on top of the cake pan, similar to a lid. Keeping the pan in place, spin it upside down. The can is now set above the pan, this will allow the water to flow freely from 2 holes into the pan.
The water will stop flowing once it’s already level to the 2 holes. Once your chickens start drinking, it automatically refills the pan with the stored water in the can.
This may not be for a long-term solution but it’s simple and frugal enough to keep your flock well hydrated.
2. DIY Automatic 5-Gallon Chicken Watering System
This DIY automatic chicken watering station is easy to put together using the right materials plus it’s totally worry-free and hands-free! Since it’s made of plastic and rubber, it’s also easy to disassemble and sanitize.
Made of a clean 5-gallon bucket, basic fittings, and other easy-to-find materials, this DIY automatic chicken waterer will solve all your troubles in keeping your chicken hydrated.
3. PVC Pipe Chicken Nipple Waterer
This PVC pipe chicken nipple waterer is your very simple way to keep the water supply for your chickens without having messy overturned containers!
4. DIY Soda Bottle Chicken Waterer
A simple and affordable DIY project! You’ll need a 1-liter plastic soda bottle, cutting tools, and a soldering iron to make tiny holes.
Once you’re done, just fill your 1-liter soda bottle with water, screw the cap on the soda bottle and turn it upside down.
The water will then begin flowing into the station and chickens can pierce their heads into the open end to get to the drinking water. Refill the bottle when it gets empty.
Depending on the size of your flock, once or twice daily will be fine. This DIY soda bottle chicken watering system will keep you and your chicken happy. It’s a nifty idea that is cost-effective and totally impressive!
RELATED: Chicken Breeds [Chapter 1] Raising Backyard Chickens
5. DIY Rain-Collecting Chicken Water System
By using a float valve and some basic plumbing supplies, you can build an effective automatic watering system for your chicken. The water is collected in rain barrels and supplied to the water system through a regular garden hose.
6. DIY Mesh Chicken Watering System
You can also build an efficient chicken water feeder using recycled materials you can find in your homestead! It’s simple to make and won’t break the bank!
This type of chicken watering system works great for a small and large number of chickens.
7. DIY Glass Chicken Waterer
If you’re not a fan of plastic, this DIY chicken watering system made out of a glass jar is a treat for you and your flock. Since this is a small-sized watering system, it’s best to use it for chicks.
8. No-Mess Watering Station
Aside from the nipples, another major factor in keeping your chicken coop mess-free is by using a simple tray under the waterer where the excess droplets fall every time the chickens drink from it.
If that appeals to you, what are you waiting for? Watch the video and try this nifty chicken watering system and provide your flock enough water to keep them productive.
9. DIY Chicken Nipple-Bucket Watering Station
Using 5 nipples to keep a flock of 20 chickens hydrated is not bad at all! This is what this DIY chicken nipple watering station is all about. Simply make holes at the bottom of your bucket to fit the chicken nipples in.
Fill the bucket with water and put it where the chicken can easily access it. There might be a need for you to show them that the water will come from the nipples but they will get used to it quickly.
Plus, it’s with buckets, so it keeps dirt and other bacteria away. The bigger your bucket the better, as you won’t need to refill it with water from time to time.
Wasn’t that all fun and easy? Keep your needy chickens hydrated with any of these DIY chicken watering systems and they’ll reward you happily. There’s so much joy from collecting fresh eggs on a daily basis if possible.
I can’t thank my flock well enough. So my fellow homesteaders, choose the best watering station for your flock! Happy homesteading!
Which of these automatic chicken watering system ideas will you build for your flock? Let us know in the comments section below!
Up Next:
- How To Keep Your Chickens Warm In Winter
- What Do Chickens Eat? Chicken Feed. [Chapter 4] Raising Backyard Chicken | Homestead Handbook
- Beginner’s Guide To Making Salves And Herb-Infused Oil
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in February 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
I didn’t see it mentioned by name, but I loved #10. It utilized the ‘Little Giant ‘ brand waterer. While it is more expensive, I found its application to be worth the extra expense. The water flow is ingeniously regulated by a simple valve core from a pneumatic tire. Coupled with Gilmore brand brass flow-stop garden hose fittings & adapters allowed us to disconnect the waterer to clean it without turning off the entire line.
we were dealing with a very old cast iron system and encountered bits of rusty pipe breaking loose and stopping water flow. We suspended the waterer using the flex hose from a kitchen sing sprayer line. This allowed us to hang the waterers up out of the way for our Kubota tractor to come in and remove the manure & about 6″ of top soil, back in and till the subsoil then add about 2 dozen red wigglers & 1 dozen night crawler fishing worm bait into the tilled soil before adding straw fresh straw.
The flex line was used because one of the children had left a gate open allowing our Mastiff to gain access. He had snapped CPVC & PVC pipe in the past chicken chasing escapades.
As we always filed schedule ‘F’, we exploited the deductiblity of the waterer and were able to take most of the assemblies with us to the new site.
Really a lot of good ideas on here
This is a great idea for a chicken watering station! I have been looking for something like this.