7 Best Chicken Waterers of 2024

Raising a baby chick as a pet or feeding a flock of hundreds of hens, waterer is a must-have item. They vary from shapes, sizes to materials, each of which is designed for a specified purpose. In this review, I’ll show you some of the best chicken waterers for from baby chicks to a large flock.

Here are the best chicken waterers you can buy in 2024:

• Best Overall: RentACoop 1.5 L
• Best Automatic Waterer: RentACoop Automatic Chicken Water
• Best For Larger Flock: Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon
• Best For Smaller Flock: 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer
• Best For Small Chicks: Ware Manufacturing Chick-N-Canteen
• Best For Larger Flock: Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker
• Best Hanging Waterer: Ware Manufacturing Hanging

Plastic Waterer

Plastic and galvanized metal are the two most common materials of chicken waterer on the market. Plastic waterers have some advantages. First, they don't rust and high-quality plastic waterers would last for several years. Second, they are easier to wash. Third, sometimes you need to add medicine or vinegar to the water, plastic does not interact with these substances while metal may.

However, plastic waterers are not so durable when you place it outside, directly under the sun.

Best Overall: RentACoop 1.5 L

RentACoop 1.5 L

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This RentACoop is both chick feeder and waterer. The capacity of the feeder is 1 liter and 1.5 liters (50.7 oz) for the waterer. The bottom part is about an inch tall so that baby chicks can easily drink water from it. This cuplike waterer also works for baby ducks since there is enough space for them to dunk their heads into the water. However, the feeder with holes is not suitable for baby ducks.

RentACoop Chick Feeder Waterer is sturdy and durable, may last for years. However, since it's plastic, don't place it directly under the sun. The waterer and feeder are also easy to clean. Moreover, the waterer can be hung up, preventing the chicks from pooping into the water.

Overall, this is a great choice for up to 10 baby chicks or about three to five hens. For a larger flock of full-grown chickens, this RentACoop would not be enough.

Best Automatic Waterer: RentACoop Automatic Chicken Water

RentACoop Automatic Chicken Water

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RentACoop Automatic is a convenient solution for your baby chicks. It comes in a pack of two at a very affordable price. Despite the low price, the cups are pretty durable that last for years.

You can drill the cups into buckets, rain barrels, or PVC pipes and they are always half full without tabs to push. The cups are large enough for hens or ducks to dip wattles in, and not so tall for baby chicks to drink water from them. A pack of two is sufficient for up to 10 baby chicks, or about five hens.

All are great. However, these cups are a bit difficult to clean, which to me, is a big drawback.

Best For Larger Flock: Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon

Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon

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Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon is a high-capacity chicken waterer. It accommodates up to 56 poultry or game birds.

It has a twist-lock system, making it easy to refill the water. There is a handle for you to easily carry it or hand it up so that chickens don’t poop in the water. However, one thing to note is that Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon is super heavy with water, so you might not find something strong enough to hang it on.

The waterer has a durable plastic construction that can be placed both outside and inside and would last for years. The material is also very easy to clean.

Best For Smaller Flock: 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer

5 Gallon Chicken Waterer

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This 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer has a higher capacity than Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon, however, the Horizontal Nipple design only suitable for a flock with up to 30 chickens. In return, the design prevents the ground from getting wet also keeps the water also clean. 5 gallons of water would last longer - you only need to refill the water after 10 days for four hens.

The waterer is made of 100% Food Grade and BPA Free Plastic, so you don’t need to worry about the toxic chemicals harming your chicks. The cap is also specially designed to prevent chickens from roosting on it so keep the outside of the waterer clean.

Overall, this is a very clean chicken waterer both inside and outside. You don’t have to worry much about refilling the water or cleaning the waterer often.

However, there is a con, which is the horizontal nipples do not work for ducks. So this 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer is only suitable for chickens.

Best For Small Chicks: Ware Manufacturing Chick-N-Canteen

Ware Manufacturing Chick-N-Canteen

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This pack of three small waterers is great for a small flock of baby chicks. Each Chick-N-Canteen is sufficient for 10 baby chicks. It is made of translucent plastic, so you can see through it and refill the water when low.

Each Chick-N-Canteen waterer holds about 1 liter of water. It is very easy to fill water, and also easy to clean. Moreover, this pack of three is very affordable. All make this is a great choice for a backyard flock of baby chicks.

However, it seems that these waterers are not so durable. So, it is best to use something to cover it from the sun and rain.

Metallic Waterer

Metallic waterers tend to be more durable than plastic waterers. A high-quality galvanized metallic waterer does not rust over time. Moreover, you can use a metal heater under it to keep the water warm during winter.

Metallic waterers tend to have a higher price than plastic waterers.

Best For Larger Flock: Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker

Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker

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Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker is the best metallic waterer for larger flocks, which can be up to 80 chickens or game birds.

It is durable due to the heavy-duty galvanized steel construction, which does not rust at least for a couple of years. It has a cap that prevents chickens from roosting, so keep it clean outside. The bottom is wide and not so tall, that both baby chicks and ducks can drink water from it. It also features a rolled edge for safety and a carry/hanger handle.

In the winter, you can place a heated base (Harris Farms Heated Poultry Drinker Base) under it or throw in a heated rock to keep the water warm. Since it is made of high-quality galvanized steel, so you don’t have to worry about melting it like a plastic one.

However, some purchasers reported water leaks on Harris Farms Double Wall Poultry Drinker. It is because they don’t line up the notches properly. You should pay a little more attention to this.

Best Hanging Waterer: Ware Manufacturing Hanging

Ware Manufacturing Hanging

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Ware Manufacturing Hanging is a great choice if you feed only one chicken. It is very affordable yet very sturdy and durable. You can hang it anywhere, and it will stay firmly there. It is pretty clean, with no spills and no mess.

However, if you place it directly under the sun, it gets really hot so that the chicken cannot drink from it.

How To Choose The Best Chicken Waterers?

• It depends on the size of your flock to decide to buy which waterer. For a flock of 50 hens, you will need a 3-gallon waterer; and 5-gallon waterer for a flock of 80 hens. If you are raising baby chicks, a waterer that holds about a quart of water would be fine.
• When it comes to baby chicks, you should choose a waterer that has a low bottom, so that your chicks can drink from it. If you are raising ducks, you should buy a bowl-like waterer as ducks have to dunk their heads into the water when drinking.
• Other things you might want to put into consideration are: Does the waterer leaks? Or Does it have something to keep water warm during winter? - Usually, people use a heated bottom for a metallic waterer or a heated rock put into the water.

Which Brands Make The Best Chicken Waterers?

RentACoop

• Rent-a-Coop is a well-known company that rents chickens for 4 or 12 week periods, or eggs for hatching. Sound weird, but it is actually a great way to educate children on how to take care of baby chicks, in a broader sense, about animal and love. Included in the rental are food, coop, hens, waterer, feeder, food, and handbook.
• Now, they also provide products for raising chicks, such as waterers, water nipples, feeders, nesting boxes. All are designed for baby chicks (also baby ducks), so it might not fit full-grown chickens.
• If you are looking for baby chicks for rent or waterers for baby chicks, Rent-a-Coop is to a to-go brand.

Harris Farms

• Harris Farms is an American poultry, farm and ranch supplier. They are known for their high-quality products that last for many years. They have waterers for all kinds of poultry - chickens, ducks, baby chickens, turkeys, etc. They have waterer for from a small flock to a large flock up to several hundreds of chickens.

Ware Manufacturing

• Ware Pet is a family-owned company. For nearly 30 years, they have made toys and products for pets and owners. They have a wide range of categories from cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, birds, chickens, reptiles, and even bees. A good thing about Ware Pet's products is they are made from recycled and recyclable material to reduce the carbon pawprint. Ware Pet is a brand for pet-lovers.
• Because Ware Pet aims at making products for pets, so their waterers have a small size, which is designed for only one chicken or small group of baby chicks.

FAQs

Conclusion

For a small flock, the 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer is my pick (number 4 above). For a larger flock, Harris Farms 3.5 Gallon is more suitable (number 3 above). For baby chicks, RentACoop 1.5 L would be a great choice (number 1 above). If you want a metallic waterer, you can scroll up and see my two recommendations. Hope my review helps you choose the best-fit chicken waterer for your pets/flocks.