Last Updated on 15 July 2025 by Maelle
When it comes to keeping your chickens well hydrated, a homemade automatic chicken waterer is an effective and economical solution. Learning how to make a chicken waterer allows you to customize the system to the specific needs of your flock. This type of waterer ensures your chickens always have access to clean water, which is crucial for their health and well-being. Making a chicken waterer may seem complex, but by following the right instructions, it’s possible to create a reliable and durable system. Whether you choose to make a chicken waterer from buckets or PVC pipes, the key is to ensure a constant water supply while minimizing the risk of contamination and waste. A homemade automatic chicken waterer is not only practical, but it also offers considerable savings compared to commercial models. By investing a little time and using readily available materials, you can build a chicken waterer that perfectly meets the needs of your flock. This DIY approach is ideal for chicken keepers looking to maximize their resources while ensuring the comfort of their animals.
How many automatic chicken waterers will I need? This will depend on the type of setup you’ll be using. Will you be using a bucket or PVC pipes with nipples? As a general rule, if you’re using a bucket, you’ll need one 5-gallon bucket for about 6 chickens. If you have a coop with 12 chickens, you’ll need two 5-gallon buckets. This also helps prevent bullying. If you have a much larger chicken coop, you may want to consider PVC. PVC piping is suitable for a larger, confined space, such as a run, but a bucket system can be used if space is a little tighter. Learn how to build a chicken coop on our partner site. To build your own automatic chicken waterer, you will need: 4-6 nipple drinkers, €5
5-gallon bucket with lid, $5 Drill 3/8″ drill bitA manifold How to Build Your Own Chicken Watering System Drill your hole (the horizontal hole should be 5 cm from the bottom of the bucket, the vertical hole should be below, about 5 cm from the rim of the bucket).
Clean up any rough edges around the hole so it is smooth. Place a nipple in the hole and screw it on, using pliers when it becomes too difficult to turn by hand.
There is a clear rubber gasket on the nipple. Tighten the nipple until the gasket creates a seal around the base of the nipple. You will be able to see it.
Fill the bucket with water and check for leaks. There shouldn’t be any. If there are leaks, clean the edges of the hole again and replace the nipple, tightening until you can see the seal around the entire base of the nipple. Place the waterer at a height where the chickens can comfortably reach the nipple. Test the nipple to ensure water flows freely.
Other tips:
- The lid is important to prevent algae from growing in the water and to keep it insect-free. Plus, your chickens could fall in! You can use a small hook to secure the bucket to the side of the coop if you like. We placed a small tray underneath, just in case there’s a leak. Ours hasn’t leaked, but we’re very water-conscious. Chickens love these things!
- Where should I place my automatic chicken waterer?
- This will depend on your setup, but one thing is certain: you should never place the waterer inside the coop. Why?
- Partly because chickens are dirty, bumping into it and spilling water everywhere. This constant moisture can lead to mold problems, which can impact the chickens’ health. The moisture released in the form of vapor can also cause frostbite during the winter months. If you have the luxury of a large chicken coop or outdoor building where they can go in and out, an indoor water system would be ideal. It will be cooler out of the sun, and being indoors will discourage wild birds from using it as well. If you have a coop with an adjoining run, a waterer placed in the run will suffice. Try to place it in the center, where everyone can access it and preferably away from the feed, in case there’s a spill.
- If your chickens are free-roaming most of the time, a few waterers placed in the yard out of the sun (preferably under cover) will work just fine. These will likely be stand-alone units not connected to your automatic system.
To conclude:
- Regular cleaning of the system is very important. Algae and bacteria thrive in standing water (even if it’s covered), so cleaning should be done weekly. You can use either straight white vinegar or a bleach solution (2 teaspoons of bleach to a gallon of water).
- This really cuts down on the cost. I’ve been using mine for about three weeks now, and it’s looking great. But I’ll keep you posted on the status of the aluminum roasters. The 5-gallon feeders and waterers from the feed store cost between $50 and $60 (EACH!), so being able to make your own is a much cheaper option, and the chickens don’t know the difference. Making the chicken waterer and feeder only cost me $2 total, or about 30 minutes of work. The entire tout-reparer.fr team remains at your disposal in the blog’s comments section.
