babies spilling water all over brooder pen...

[Margy1]

We had talked about setting up a nipple waterer once before, I guess its time we revised that subject . Do they get enough water from the nipples? It's very hot here during the day (Florida) and I worry about them not getting enough water. How do you introduce them to the nipples so they know that is where they get their water from?

 

[ShockValue]

Take the old waterer away. Wait an hour.
Flick the nipple so that they SEE a few drops of water. They'll often come investigate.

If not, flick the nipple and touch their beaks to the water drop.

I was surprised at how quickly they "got it". Took about an hour for 8 chicks never seeing one before, to using it effectively.

 

[arkansas55]

Had the same issue. Switched to a nipple waterer about that age and haven't looked back.

About 30 seconds in you can see them using it:

awwwwww,cutie chick's and i love the waterer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CrazyTalk]

Upgrade your waterer to one of those one gallon sizes. And elevate it so the chick's backs are the height of the water. The little quart sizes are too light and easy to tip over. Mary

Agree. At 5 weeks they're getting pretty big.. mine were jumping up onto the waterer and knocking it over well before that age.

I use shavings, and would put the water jug on a couple layers of offcut 2x4s (wide side up/down)..enough to get it so the water was chest/head level. Cuts down on the shavings in the water quite a bit.

 

[Margy1]

Raising it is deffinetly something we are going to work on hopefully tomorrow, but they don't seem to be knocking it over, the waterer is always standing straight up, I don't know how they are getting their water everywhere. We looked into get the watering nipples the only place that has them around us is out of them right now so we have to wait to do that . Hopefully raising it helps, they are getting REALLY big. It'd be great to keep them outside at night but its been getting to cold here at night to keep them out. My sister keeps telling me were babying them to much Lol, we just can't help it!

 

[pawtraitart]

Raising it is deffinetly something we are going to work on hopefully tomorrow, but they don't seem to be knocking it over, the waterer is always standing straight up, I don't know how they are getting their water everywhere. We looked into get the watering nipples the only place that has them around us is out of them right now so we have to wait to do that . Hopefully raising it helps, they are getting REALLY big. It'd be great to keep them outside at night but its been getting to cold here at night to keep them out. My sister keeps telling me were babying them to much Lol, we just can't help it!

Use a horizontal nipple system and you won't have wet bedding issues. You can install them in a container of your choice. I get mine from Susan at http://allboutchickens.com