We are thirsty
Chickens – like all living creatures – absolutely need to drink enough water, especially while they are laying. Eggs consist largely of water. The hens must be able to drink this in addition to the liquid they need to live. Even one day without drinking can lead to a laying strike lasting several days, not to mention malaise due to thirst.
How much water do chickens drink
How much is needed depends on the animals and their activity, on average a chicken drinks about 0.3l – 0.4l per day. So always make sure that the bowl is never empty – especially in summer. Because there is nothing worse than being thirsty but having nothing to drink. You can buy self-filling drinking bowls with up to 30 liters, which offer enough volume for your chickens, even if you are not there for a few days. It’s also a bit more convenient for humans if they don’t have to refill the drinker every day.
Chickens prefer natural water
Chickens often prefer to drink rainwater rather than chlorinated water from the tap. You can place containers in the run for your feathered friends to catch the rain. Large flower pot coasters are ideal for this. However, this increases the risk of your feathered friends catching parasites and getting diarrhea. So how you do it, you do it wrong.