My life changed the day we started using this chicken waterer. It is the best chicken waterer ever!
You know how chickens can be—sometimes they end up filling their waterer with dirt and grit from scratching around. It’s like they don’t even realize they’re making a mess! GRRR!! Keeping their water clean was once a bit of a challenge for me, but not anymore. You’ll love this DIY chicken waterer!

Fresh Water is Essential for Chickens: Choosing the Best Chicken Waterer Makes it a Breeze
Water is really a big deal for chickens! Chickens need fresh, clean water just like we do! It keeps them hydrated and healthy. It helps them regulate their body temperature, especially on those hot days. Without enough water, they can get overheated and stressed. When their water is clean, they drink more, and that keeps them laying eggs consistently. And let’s not forget digestion—water helps break down their food, making sure they get all the nutrients they need. Plus, clean water helps prevent any nasty diseases and keeps them happy. Basically, fresh water is key to keeping your flock in top shape!

Materials Needed to Make the Best Chicken Waterer Ever.
How to Put it Together.
Step 1: Use a 3/8″ drill bit to make holes near the base of your bucket. (See Tips for height)
Step 2: Put a rubber washer on the cup and insert it into the hole. The washer stays on the outside of the hole.
Step 3: Screw the wingnut onto the thread inside your container.


Installation Tips
- You can see in the picture above that we drilled our holes about 3″ from the bottom of our barrel.
- The spacing of your poultry cups is up to you, and will depend on the size of your container. I choose to put my poultry cups all on one side so that I don’t run the risk of breaking them off when I dump out the water to clean my barrel.
- If you plan to sit your container on the ground, be sure the holes are at least 3″ up from the base so the cups don’t touch the ground. If they do touch the ground it will cause them to overflow. Having your holes higher on your container also keeps your chickens from filling them with dirt when they do their scratching. (I have never had this problem with this setup.)
- To prevent leaks you will need to remove all of the burrs left from drilling the hole before installing the cups. Make sure you have a good seal with the rubber washer and make sure you don’t over tighten the wingnut.
- The poultry cups are designed to be gravity fed or can be hooked up to low pressure systems that are less than 3 PSI.

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This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclose here.
- (5 Pack) Lil Clucker Large Automatic Chicken Waterer Cups https://amzn.to/3SMJMvc
- 5 Gallon Bucket & Lid – Food Grade – Contains No BPA Plastic https://amzn.to/3WXUdie
- 3/8 in. x 5 in. Cobalt Metal Drill Bit https://amzn.to/4dk4pqX
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