Birds need hydration, just like humans. Water helps their bodies maintain fluids, assist digestion, and regulate temperatures. They also need water for preening and making their feathers clean. Here is where chicken waterer cups come into the scene. Not only do these devices provide clean water to birds, but they are also very efficient.
We reviewed seven chicken waterer cups to find which one was the best. From our assessment, we found the RentACoop Chicken Water Cup Waterer Kit for Poultry to be the winner, largely because it is widely reviewed and praised, but also because it functions well without leaks. Our next choice was the Lil'Clucker Large Automatic Chicken Waterer Cups because they are trusted and work well with PVC pipes. Our third choice was the Sykria Chicken Water Cups because they are compatible with all water containers.
But first, what exactly are these chicken waterer cups?
What are Chicken Waterer Cups?
You might also hear chicken nipples; these two are functionally the same. Chicken waterer cups are built so birds can drink water from cups attached to a water pipeline system. The cups should be at a reachable height so the chickens can drink the water comfortably.
As the chickens drink, more water is released into the cup via a valve. This ensures there is no wastage of water, as only the amount needed is dispensed at the specific time it is needed. So if your birds are a playful lot, with waterer cups, their chances of spilling water are greatly limited.
Image Credits: etsy.com
The valve mechanism also means that the water-dispensing system is hygienic, as the small opening in the device helps prevent dirt and debris from building up. Therefore the risk of infection among the birds is reduced.
Another benefit of chicken waterer cups is that the birds get a steady supply of clean and fresh water without much human intervention. You don't need to keep emptying and refilling their water cups; connecting the cups to a water source is enough. Further, your birds can quench their thirst in hot weather conveniently and quickly.
Which Chicken Waterer Cups Are Best?
The market is filled with different types of poultry water cups. To narrow down your choices, consider the following factors:
- Maintenance. Essentially, the waterer cup you choose should minimize human contact as much as possible at installation or maintenance. Assembling and disassembling should be relatively easy since the cups need constant cleaning.
- Flow rate. While this is a bit technical, the cups should offer a constant flow of water for your birds. The flow rate should be proportional to your birds' drinking rate, and while that may be out of your hands, the safe option would be to select a waterer cup with enough flow rate for your birds. You know your birds better than we do.
- Durability. Poultry water cups should last years and withstand wear and tear caused by constant pecking. Ensure the material used is high quality, as the cups may also be sitting in the sun for extended periods of time.
- Personal preference. If you prefer waterer cups that come with shields that prevent splashing, plastic over metal, or perhaps red over blue, weigh each option and select the one that works for you, even budget-wise.
With that noted, let us delve into some of the best chicken waterer cups. We have tried and tested these and found them to be worth trying or at least considering.
1. RentACoop Chicken Water Cup Waterer Kit for Poultry
- 6 DIY Auto-Fill Cups with Inserts + 1 BONUS CUP: Cups automatically refill with fresh water as your animals drink....
- Do It Yourself: Transform any container into a custom poultry waterer in minutes using a 9mm drill bit. NOTE:...
- Versatile and Easy to Clean: Suitable for indoor and outdoor setups; provide your chickens and other poultry with...
- We Thought of Everything: Cups stay 3/4 full to avoid spills; compatible with any type of container or watering...
- What's in the Box: 6 + 1 Auto-Fill Cups with inserts, attached elbows, silicone washers, wingnuts; instructions....
Last update on 2024-08-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The cups in this waterer are designed to always be half full, with water flowing automatically. Automatic fill waterer cups ensure that the chickens have a consistent flow of water using a float valve that opens to allow water in up to the half-full level.
Further, this waterer works if connected to a bucket directly. The refilling capability is a best-seller for this one, as we found it pretty convenient that the birds did not have to peck the waterers to get water; it flowed automatically.
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2. Lil'Clucker Large Automatic Chicken Waterer Cups
- Automatic chicken waterers the perfect addition to your coop. Our chicken water cups have a constant supply of...
- The best bird feeder kit for your pet. Chicken, duck, goose, turkey, quail or rabbit they love them. Almost 3”...
- Easy cleaning chicken water feeder simply use a 3/8" drill bit to create holes. Our chicken automatic feeder cups...
- The ideal chicken automatic waterer system. Perfect for a low pressure set up either attach directly to a bucket or...
- Superior in design to chicken nipple waterer. Our chicken cup has a large bowl size and automatically refill your...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This 5-gallon waterer comes as a comprehensive bird feeder kit consisting of 3-inch diameter cups and tee fittings for PVC pipes. The material used to make the waterers are BPA-free, guaranteeing extra hygiene and health for your birds.
Image Credits: ebay.com
The waterer works on a gravity-fed water system and can work at <3 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). When the water in the cup goes down, the cup tilts up, and the valve opens to let more water in. After it has filled, it tilts down and shuts the valve to stop more water from flowing in.
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3. Sykria Chicken Water Cups
- Chicken Water Feeder : Our chicken water bowl is an automated watering system, they all can automatically fill...
- Durable Material: This auto chicken waterer is made of a very strong plastic material and reliable stainless...
- Reduce Water Leakage: Our drinker cup keeps the water level where it needs to be, so nothing spills out of the cup....
- Easy to Install & Clean: It comes with 6 individual cups and the hardware needed to install them onto the bucket...
- Wide Applications: Each cup is large enough to water, and are safe for chicks to use. It is suitable for all types...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is another automatic chicken waterer, which fills water without any human interaction. All this while ensuring your birds get fresh and clean water throughout the day. Furthermore, the cups only partially fill, thus reducing wastage caused by spills.
The six cups are made of durable, light, and affordable plastic. It can be attached to any PVC pipe, bucket, or tank. The waterer can be used by all types of birds, from chickens to parrots to ducks.
Image Credits: ebay.com
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4. Erduoduo 24 Packs Poultry Drinking Watering Cups
- Package includes: 24 chicken waterer, 24nuts, And put the Drill Bit into the chicken waterer package
- Easy to install.Using our accessories, just drill a hole in a bucket, can be connected with bucket, pipe...
- Suitable for chicken, duck, quail, pigeon, parrot, bird, etc
- Made of high quality PVC material, safe , heat resistance, low temperature resistance, chemical resistance, good...
- When chickens peck the yellow trigger, the chicken waterer valve automatically releases water into the plastic...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These 24-pack watering cups are made of high-quality PVC material that is heat and chemical resistant. We appreciate such assurance in a bird drinker; your birds don't face the risk of falling ill due to chemicals.
Image Credits: ebay.com
What we found even more outstanding was the yellow trigger inside the cups. Each cup comes with an individual trigger that releases water to the cup each time a bird pecks on it. Perhaps its bestselling feature, the trigger minimizes wastage. However, this is still a disadvantage, as the birds may turn the whole invention into a game.
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5. Cocoyeye 6 Pack Chicken Waterer Cups
- 【Reliable Automatic Water Flow】：Our chicken waterer ensures a continuous flow of water without the need for...
- 【Innovative Solution for Clean Water】：Say goodbye to traditional feeding methods with our poultry water cups....
- 【Perfect for Gravity Fed Systems】：Whether attached directly to a bucket or integrated with a float valve or...
- 【Easy to install】：Simply use a 3/8 "drill bit to drill holes approximately 1" above the bucket base for easy...
- 【Streamline Chicken Care with Confidence】：With their user-friendly design and dependable performance, our...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
These preservative-free, allergen-free waterer cups ensure that your birds are as healthy as possible while drinking. The cups are always half-full and are fed from a bucket of water, as seen below.
Image Credits: ebay.com
The cups work at 3 PSI. You need to use a 3/8 drill bit to make holes at least one inch above the base of the bucket. We recommend that you do not drill the holes too close to the base of the bucket, as it would restrict the positioning of the cups.
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6. Patelai Chicken Waterer Cups
- Automatic feature: our poultry drinking bowl is automatic design, the water can come out automatically according to...
- Reliable to use: these automatic filling waterers are made of quality material and stainless spring, durable and...
- Easy to install and clean: this watering cup is easy for you to use, can be connected with bucket, pipe...
- Wide range of use: the drinking bowl is designed with large cup size, approx. 3 inches in cup diameter, the bowls...
- What you get: the package provides you sufficient quantity chicken watering cups in basic colors, and enough...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Most (if not all) waterer cups on this list are automatic, and we love that for our farmers. The benefit of this is that they limit human interaction with the drinkers, hence saving time that could have been wasted refilling and cleaning.
This particular water cup comes with a control valve inside that releases water to fill the cups for the birds to drink. Furthermore, the cups are large-sized and can feed ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Image Credits: ebay.com
The material used to make the cups is durable and sturdy, guaranteeing no leaks. They are also not easy to break, so if your birds grow and start playing around, you'll be sure that the cups will stand the test.
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7. ZenxyHoC DIY Chicken Waterer Cups
- 【Best All-Rounder】ZenxyHoC water cups allow chicken keepers to design their own automatic or gravity-fed...
- 【Reduce Water Leakage】Are such a great solution to stop tipping of bowls! Will keep your chickens hydrated with...
- 【The ideal chicken automatic waterer system】Supplying your chickens with ample, easily accessib fresh water is...
- 【Peace of Mind & Reliable to Use】 Require no training or pecking by your chooks! Watch as your birds take right...
- 【Easy to Install】It comes with 5 cups suitable for up to 12 chickens. Each pack comes with hardware and a...
Last update on 2024-08-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Made with all domestic birds in mind, from ducks to geese to turkeys, these drinker cups are automatic and gravity-fed. The birds can dip their wattles in the water while feeding, which makes the entire experience a fun one for them.
Image Credits: ebay.com
The cups are always kept half-full, mainly in part due to the valves. This ensures there is no wastage and that the water is kept clean.
The pack comes with a drill bit (which we really appreciate) to drill holes of at least 1/8 inches. It is recommended to check for leaks once you drill the holes and fit the cups. The cups can be fitted to a PVC pipe system or a bucket.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do You Keep Chicken Water Cups Clean?
Ideally, chicken water cups should be kept clean always. Inasmuch as different manufacturers have come up with dirt-minimizing strategies, such as valves, you still need to ensure that the cups are clean, disinfected, and sanitized.
You will need to empty the cups individually, ensure that the debris is completely out, scrub them well enough, disinfect them to kill any remaining pathogens, dry them to prevent growth or build-up of bacteria, and regularly check for any debris build-up.
2. How Often Should Chicken Water Be Changed?
Daily, at least. Your birds should have clean and fresh water, always. To ensure this optimally, the best time-frequency to ensure when changing water is at least once a day, preferably in the morning.
In hotter seasons, such as summer, you may need to increase the frequency to at least twice or thrice, as the birds will drink more water. Also, if you have many birds, the water should be changed periodically, as much as need be.
3. Where Is the Best Place to Put a Chicken Cup Waterer?
The best answer for this is where the birds can reach the water the easiest. Accessibility and convenience are key here in terms of height (that is, both chicks and adult chickens should be able to reach the water cups easily) and place of positioning (that is, at the center of the coop, for instance).
It is not advisable to place a waterer next to a feeder, as the birds may dirty the water, thus risking their health. You should also place it on a stable, elevated area to ensure that debris does not enter the cups.
Furthermore, if you have many birds, consider placing multiple waterers in the coop. Ensure that they are spaced out to avoid competition among the birds, which may lead to scuffles, and no one wants that.
Placing the waterer in a sheltered area also prevents bacteria and other pathogens from contaminating the water. The other benefit is that the waterer's wear and tear (caused by sunlight is minimized), especially if it is made of plastic.
