Automatic chicken waterers are designed so your chickens can have constant access to water, helping you save both time and money. Of course, it can be difficult to know which chicken waterers are worth the price. The best automatic chicken waterer is effective, affordable, and long lasting.
These reviews feature the best chicken waterers for backyard chickens. They can easily be placed in the yard so your chickens have constant access to fresh water. Read on to select the one that is right for you.
The OverEZ Automatic Chicken Waterer has the ability to hold up to 12 gallons of water, meaning you won’t have to change out the water for at least a month. Plus, you can clean it out and refill it on the ground, meaning you don’t have to worry about putting too much muscle into the contraption.
We particularly like how this automatic chicken waterer is made from UV-protected and BPA-free plastic. This makes the waterer safe and durable, enabling it to last a long time, even outdoors. It is also easy to clean, further enabling you to get your money’s worth from this product.
The last reason that we love this chicken waterer is that it comes with a non-drip design and a no-fill design. This design ensures that the chickens don’t accidentally spill the water everywhere, wasting your precious dollars and resources.
If you are looking for a basic but effective automatic waterer, the RentACoop 5 Gallon Chicken Waterer may be for you. This 5-gallon bucket can provide around 10 days’ worth of water for four hens. It even comes with four dispensers to ensure that multiple chickens have access to water anytime they want.
This chicken waterer requires no setup. Simply rinse it out and fill it up. This makes it a great option if you want a no-hassle automatic waterer. It even comes with a no-roost cone, making it easier and more hassle free in terms of cleaning. This product is made from food-grade and BPA-free plastic, making it safe to use for your chickens.
One thing you might not like about this waterer is that it is a bit of an eyesore. This might not be an issue if your chickens are placed in a yard that is rustic looking, but it can stand out if you have a more natural-appearing backyard coop.
The Royal Rooster Chicken Feeder and Waterer Set is a great choice if you want a waterer that comes with an automatic feeder too. This automatic waterer has a 1-gallon capacity and a waste-free design. It even comes with two water dispensers, making it suitable for more than one chicken at a time.
Both automatic dispensers are white with a long tube. This makes it much easier to blend into the background. Plus, the material is UV resistant and BPA free. This makes the material safe and effective to use for your chickens.
One thing to know before buying this product is that it is expensive. Since the dispenser is much smaller than some other options, you might want to select something more affordable with a larger capacity.
The Rural365 Automatic Chicken Waterer System is an efficient and basic automatic chicken waterer. It has a 1-liter capacity and a single poultry watering cup. This makes it easy for the chickens to gain access to their water without spilling it everywhere. It is even drip free enough that you can use it indoors.
The cup itself is inventive. It comes with a yellow trigger, which entices the chickens to peck at it. This is how they learn to get their water. This takes away the issue of trying to teach your chickens where to go.
The waterer itself is made from UV-resistant and BPA-free plastic. It is also designed to mount to a wire cage with ease. This is a basic design that is great for people who don’t want much fuss for their backyard chickens.
The Harris Farms 1000293 Galvanized Hanging Poultry Feeder is technically made for feed, but you can use it as an automatic waterer too. Made from metal, it is much more attractive than the plastic options on this list.
The metal is more than just attractive, though. It also makes the waterer highly durable. Its steel is resistant to rust and will withstand chickens pecking it. This makes it a great option for an attractive yet long-lasting automatic feeder or waterer.
One drawback of this option is that it doesn’t come with individual nipples for the dispenser, meaning the chickens can more easily waste the water. The top is not covered either, which can lead to compromised water if it sits for too long.
Pros
Pretty
Durable materials
Can double as automatic feeder
Cons
Easy for the chickens to waste the water
Open lid can lead to contaminated water
6. RentACoop Chicken Water Cup Waterer Kit for Poultry
The RentACoop Chicken Water Cup Waterer Kit for Poultry is a great option if you don’t want to buy a whole new bucket but simply need some sort of dispenser to connect to your current watering system. You can select between a pack of two, four, and six, enabling all members of your flock to have access to the water.
Simply create holes above the base of the bucket. Then, install the nipple cups according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will provide the chickens with automated water using the bucket that you currently have.
Obviously, the big downside of this option is that it requires setup and installation. You will need a ⅜-inch drill bit in order to create the holes. This isn’t a huge drawback, but it can be a problem if you don’t want to install the automated feeder yourself.
With the letsFix Chicken Waterer Cups With Tee, you connect the kit to a bucket or hose using a PVC pipe. The kit comes with 10 cups, meaning even large backyard chicken flocks can have access to water.
You will need PVC glue to connect the fittings properly, but you do not need a drill. It is specifically designed to be used with pipes to avoid leakage and difficult installation.
This option isn’t the most durable, though, and can be difficult to use, even though the setup is easy.
The Automatic Chicken Water Nipple Drinker Feeders screw into pipes, buckets, and other water sources for a convenient and automatic chicken waterer. You can even use them for more than just chickens. They are great for geese, broilers, ducks, and game birds too.
Due to the screw-in design, this is the easiest to install. Plus, it comes with 25 nipples or dispensers, ensuring that any chicken in the flock has constant access to water. The nipples even have a 360-degree turn, ensuring that chickens can get at it from any side.
This may be a more difficult option for chickens to get the hang of because it is not colored in a way to attract them. Plus, it lies down in a unique way.
Pros
Screw-in design makes for easy installation
Suitable for many water sources
Affordable price
Cons
May take chickens a while to get the hang of
9. Backyard Barnyard 2 Pack Automatic Poultry Waterer Cup Drinker
If your backyard flock is a bit on the small side, there’s no need for a super heavy-duty bucket or dozens of feeders. The Backyard Barnyard 2 Pack Automatic Poultry Waterer Cup Drinker may be a great alternative because there are only two per pack, making them perfect for the small flock.
You can easily attach it to buckets or PVC watering systems. You do not need to drill holes or do anything else. This makes installation easy. Also, this product is affordable, meaning you don’t have to have a huge budget for this option.
The price does come with drawbacks, though. Most notably, it isn’t the most durable option on the market, but it will stand up against your chickens for a good length of time. It is not suitable for large flocks, though.
With the BOEN 15 Pack Chicken Nipples Waterer, water comes in the form of 15 side-mount water nipples. By drilling a hole in the side of a container, you can easily create an automatic and drip-free watering experience for your chickens. Not only does the drip-free experience save you money, but the pack is also affordable.
The biggest drawback is that it requires a bit more effort for installation. You will need to drill a hole in the side of a container using a 5/16-inch or 11/32-inch drill bit. This isn’t difficult, but it may be annoying for someone who doesn’t have the parts already.
Pros
15 nipples per pack
Affordable price
Cons
Requires drilling for installation
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Chicken Waterer
Even if you have a list of the best automatic chicken waterers in front of you, it can be difficult to know which option to select for your flock specifically. In this buyer’s guide, we will help you determine the automatic chicken waterer that you should get for your backyard coop.
Factors to Consider When Buying an Automatic Chicken Waterer
When selecting an automatic chicken waterer for your backyard flock, it’s important to keep four factors in mind: design, materials, float, and water capacity. These will determine whether the chicken waterer meets your needs and expectations. Let’s take a look at each factor in more detail.
Design: Automatic chicken waterers can either come in the form of nipples to attach to buckets/PVC watering systems or be a premade option. Select whichever design is best for you. If you don’t want to handle any installation issues, select a premade option.
Materials: Since your backyard chickens are exposed to various elements, make sure the chicken waterer can withstand the elements too. Select highly durable plastic that is food grade and ideally, UV resistant. Metal is also a great choice if you want something a bit more attractive.
Float: The point of an automatic waterer is to provide constant water for your chickens without wasting any money or resources. Check the float mechanism to see how the water pressure is controlled. Read reviews to ensure that the mechanism actually works.
Water Capacity: This factor will not apply to individual nipples, but you should consider it if you go for a premade option. The bigger the water capacity, the less frequently you will have to fill it up.
A good automatic chicken waterer is one that is durable and easy for chickens to use and does not waste water. It is difficult to find an automatic chicken waterer that meets all these standards.
Two features that you need to ensure are high quality are the materials and the float mechanism. Checking these will verify that the automatic waterer is durable and will not waste precious resources.
Also, sometimes a watering system is not intuitive for chickens, meaning you either have to demonstrate how to use it or lure them to it. For the best result, opt for a feeder that is designed to entice chickens to drink from it.
Final Thoughts
Automatic chicken waterers are ideal for providing your chickens with constant access to water without wasting any money or resources. Among these reviews, the top automatic chicken waterer is the OverEZ Automatic Chicken Waterer because it is affordable yet provides ample water capacity and saves water in the process.
