Change to nipple waterer and no mess feeder at 4 weeks. Too early?

[John Sanders]

12 large breed chicks. Should I change from the red waterer and feeder to the larger ones?

 

[rjohns39]

Mine use a nipple waterer at 1 day old. I've found that this one is the least messy and far better than my home made versions. https://www.qcsupply.com/422209-game-bird-drinker-activator-kit.html

 

[~KH~]

I also put mine on a nipple waterer as soon as they arrived in the mail, and made them a "less" mess feeder at just under a week old (took a gallon vinegar jug and cut 1 1/2" or so holes about 2" up on the sides and hang it so it's the right height for them to stick their heads into). Of course, at almost 2 weeks, I still have a couple of them that are small enough to squeeze inside, but it's much harder for them to fling the food all over.

 

[Ole rooster]

That's all I use from day one. Love um. No mess till you get a leaker, then you have to find it.

 

[debid]

I also start the babies on the vertical nipples and have never had any trouble with it. When they start to join the adults, I just put a brick under a nipple so the small ones can reach.

I also rigged a hanger for the baby feeder to keep moving it up as they grew.

I do side-by-side brooding with gradual integration so they were fully merged into the adult flock by 12 weeks.