There are many ways you can give water to your chickens. The most common is to use automatic drinkers which are filled up and slowly dispense water as and when needed. This is especially useful if you are away at work during the day. Another advantage of using this method is that the rims which hold the water are quite small which prevent chicks from drowning and dirt getting into the water.

Featured below are examples of some of the most popular poultry drinkers, you can see these on trade stands at many large poultry shows or do an internet search for mail order suppliers.

Mushroom Drinkers:
These are usually seen in quite small sizes of around 1 litre which are great for chicks. The narrow rim is a safety guard against drowning and the shaped top means that the birds do not jump up and perch on it (which prevents droppings falling into the water). Because of the 'mushroom' shape the birds are unable to stand in the water. the plastic is very strong which stands up to the cold weather well and cleaning is very easy.

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Jam-Jar /Glass Drinkers:
Although not very common any more these are quite handy for chicks. The idea is to fill a jam jar full of water, put the base over the top and turn it upside down. It then acts the same as the other drinkers seen on this page. The galvanized rim is easy to clean and not very wide making it good for chicks, but being so small means that water could soon run out if it is to serve a lot of birds.

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Plastic Drinker on Legs:
These are a very good design and great for birds of any age. They are one of the most popular poultry drinker and come in larger sizes than those shown above. The legs underneath are collapsible providing three different heights - one with the legs down, one with the legs extended to the first setting and one with the legs fully extended. They have a wire handle on top which means the unit can be carried easily or suspended to raise it further from the ground (although the legs extend enough to stand on it's own).

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Bucket Drinkers:
These are more heavy duty drinkers suitable for poultry and waterfowl. The act just like a typical bucket, you fill it up under the tap and carry it using the handle. Once tipped on the side it has a small lip which allows the birds to access the water inside. The round design makes perching impossible and it is very easy to clean. They are, however, a little more expensive than the others on this page due to being made from galvanized metal rather than plastic.

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Tripod Drinkers:
These are best suited for large sheds or outdoor runs with lots of large fowl to provide water for. They are usually seen made from either plastic or metal and have a cap on top which simply unscrews like a petrol cap and lets you fill it up with water. The most common size tripod drinker will hold 30 litres of water which should be changed regularly if not drunk to prevent algae building up inside.

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