Description
This is an 11 litre automatic poultry drinker with a base about 35cm across and a height of about 30cm, using a wing nut at the suspension point to set the water flow - $48.99. Fill it, hang or stand it, and the birds drink at their own pace while the reservoir tops the tray up automatically.
Chickens drink far more than people expect - roughly half a litre each per day, and considerably more in an Australian summer. A small drinker means refilling twice a day in January and worrying every time you go away for a weekend. Eleven litres changes the job from daily to weekly. It also solves the other problem with open water: a shallow dish gets fouled with droppings, dirt and bedding within hours, while a gravity drinker keeps the reservoir sealed and only exposes a small drinking tray.
Specifications
| Capacity |
11 litres |
| Base diameter |
Approximately 35cm |
| Height |
Approximately 30cm |
| Flow control |
Wing nut at the suspension point |
| Operation |
Gravity fed, continual flow, no power |
| Handle colour |
Red, green or stainless steel - varies with stock |
What's in the Box
| 1 x |
11L automatic poultry drinker |
Why Choose an 11 Litre Drinker
-
Weekly instead of daily - 11 litres is around a week for a small flock, and it takes the summer worry out of a weekend away.
-
Adjustable flow - the wing nut lets you set the level in the tray rather than accepting whatever the design gives.
-
Water stays cleaner - the reservoir is closed and only a shallow tray is exposed to bedding and droppings.
-
No power, no float valve - gravity does the work, so there is nothing to fail.
-
Can be hung or stood - hanging it at back height keeps litter out of the tray.
How Much Water Do Chickens Actually Need?
A standard laying hen drinks roughly 500ml a day in mild weather and can easily double that in hot weather, so a flock of six in an Australian summer might get through six litres a day. Water intake also drives egg production more directly than feed does - a hen short of water stops laying within a day or two. That is the real argument for a larger drinker: not convenience, but never being the reason the flock ran dry on a 38 degree afternoon. In extreme heat, put out a second drinker in the shade regardless of capacity.
Should It Be Hung or Stood on the Ground?
Hung, if you can. A drinker standing on the ground collects bedding, dirt and droppings in the tray within hours, and chickens will happily scratch litter straight into it. Hanging it so the tray sits at roughly the birds' back height keeps almost all of that out and dramatically reduces how often you need to scrub it. The suspension point is designed for exactly this. If you must stand it, put it on a paver or a raised platform rather than directly on bedding.
How Do You Keep the Water Clean and Ice Free?
Rinse the tray every few days and give the whole unit a proper scrub with a brush weekly - a biofilm builds up on any wet plastic surface and it is easier to prevent than remove. Position it in shade in summer, which slows algae growth as well as keeping the water cooler. In frost prone areas the tray can freeze overnight; bringing it inside or breaking the ice each morning is the usual answer, since there is no heating element in a gravity drinker.
Buyers are backyard chicken keepers, smallholders, and anyone whose current drinker needs refilling daily. It also sells to people setting up a first coop, and to those who travel and need the flock watered while away.
Pair it with our automatic treadle chicken feeder, which keeps rats out of the feed the same way this keeps litter out of the water. Browse Pet Supplies and Gardening for more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dimensions?
Approximately 35cm across the base and 30cm high, holding 11 litres.
What colour is it?
The handle colour varies with stock and may be red, green or stainless steel. Please order only if any of those is acceptable.
How many chickens will it water?
The manufacturer does not state a flock size. At roughly 500ml per hen per day, 11 litres is about a week for three hens in mild weather, and considerably less in summer heat.
Does it need power?
No. It is gravity fed with no pump, float valve or electrical parts.
Can it hang?
Yes. It has a suspension point, and hanging it is the best way to keep bedding out of the tray.
What is it made from?
The manufacturer does not specify the material beyond the handle options. Contact us before ordering if that matters.
Do you ship Australia wide?
Yes, to every state and territory including regional and remote addresses.
Fast Australian Shipping
We ship from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, plus regional and remote addresses. Orders placed on a business day are picked and dispatched promptly, with tracking emailed to you as soon as the parcel leaves us.
Handle colour is not selectable and varies with stock. Dimensions are quoted approximately by the manufacturer. Full of water this unit weighs around 11kg - lift and hang it with care and check any hanging point is rated for the load. Clean the tray regularly; standing water in any drinker develops biofilm and algae. Provide additional shaded water in extreme heat.
