Switching watering methods

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farrider387

farrider387

Hatching
12 Years
Jan 28, 2007
7
0
7
After using pan type waterers for many yrs. I recently switched to a 5gal. sparkle pail type waterer that is suspended from the ceiling . It has 4 nipple type valves coming out the bottom from which the chickens can get water. It has been two weeks and I can't tell if they have adapted to the new waterer. Also not sure of the height above floor it should be for chickens to access it. Are they able to make the switch on their own ?
 
No I am not offering the chickens no alternate water source in the coop, although there is water available for them outside during the daytime. They are free range and go where they want. I have a dog that watches over them.
 
Was the bucket still full after the two weeks? When I switched to this same method, I simply just poked the nipples so they would drip to get their attention. Mine never had a problem with them after. I am switching to a rain barrel/pvc pipe setup and I will be using these same nipples.
 
400
 
Last fall after all the mess with waters, and lugging around 5 gallon nipple drinkers, I decided to change. I ordered a brief tap waterer. They are about $30.00. The cooler (10 gal) I got at work, cheap due to the spigot not working. All my flock, both ducks and chickens loved it! I needed 2 more, but $30.00 each sucked. Well today I was in TSC, peeking at the chicks( I won't buy from them) and saw this tap waterer. Only $12.99!!!! I bought 2! Actually like it better than the original brite tap! Has a filter screen for debris, and the plastic stoppers on the original,will eventually fall apart(really thin plastic)check it ! BTW I still have a pool for my ducks to bathe, but they drink from the nipples. Great find!
 
I have to use a 5 gallon bucket wrapped in heat tape for the winter, but after the last freeze I swap it out for my PVC nipple waterer, tapped into a 55 gal drum that collects rain water from the coop and run. I never have more than 12 chickens and they free range so the 55 gal drum lasts over a month with no rain. It only takes .8" of rain to fill the entire drum! The pipe is only 18" off the ground, it should be more like 20" or 21".






 
I had too many issues with PVC watering systems, even though I can run PVC in a home easily. My design was solid, just hard to keep clean. I am not a fan of collecting rain water for my animals, I would have to come up with some kind of filtration. Watering my garden, no problem. Here's in AR, you get algae issues, and tons of " stuff" would get into the drum. Especially mold. I have NOT had a problem with the nipple waterers.. I hate the ones with the nipples on the bottom! You cannot set them down to fill. I probably threw away $200 worth of PVC. Tried and failed. Sticking with my drinkers. Will be getting more chicks and a Rouen drake for my ducks. I have 20 gals of clean pure water available always. And easy to put ice in the coolers when it gets really hot.
 
Also in the winter, I put 7 watt aqarium heater in my water cooler nipple drinkers. Did not freeze.
 
Not too worried about feeding them rain water, but to each their own. I also am new to chickens so well see how long my set up lasts. I'm going to wrap the drum in wood, hoping to shade the drum enough to lower the chance if algae.
 

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