A good layer house will provide water through a nipple drinking systems. If you have layer cages, this is the only way to effectively water your layers. If you are using nest boxes instead of layer cages you could use bell drinkers, which would be fed through pipes leading from the header tank on the roof.

nipples in layer cage

Nipple drinkers are small nipples or valves that the chickens peck on – when the nipple is pushed it releases a drop of water. This is a very good way to water chickens – whether they be layers or broilers. The release of only enough water ensures that your litter stays dry, which in turn means that the chickens stay healthy. A nipple drinking system will make watering your flock very easy. The nipples are mounted into plastic PVC pipes called nipple lines, which then run up and down the house. Spacing the nipples along the pipe allows you to control how many chickens drink on each nipple.Usually about 12 birds per nipple is the norm – in some case (very hot areas) one would use 10 chickens per nipple – but this can be pushed to 15 chickens per nipple in some cases. A nipple drinking system is definitely the way to go if you want to save time – another benefit is the ease with which you can medicate your poultry in the layer house.