Chicken bucket Water with Nipples ..Cheap!!!

[mumofsix]

I was @ the Local Feed Store a couple weeks ago . Water Buckets with 4 nipples were $19.99 I came home and ordered the nipples 50/$ 11.00 on E-bay , Got them Saturday . Stopped by Wal-mart Bakery Today and got (5 gal Cleaned Frosting)Buckets 18/$18.00 So for $29.00 I can make 12 water buckets with 4 nipples @ $2.00 each and have 6 for feed buckets . p.s. the smaller buckets are free

 

[debid]

FWIW, several birds will share a nipple even when many are available because chickens are social creatures. So, it's rare that more than one nipple on a bucket is in use at any given moment. I generally install 2 nipples on a 5g as far apart as possible so I have room to put a block under one for juveniles.

 

[mumofsix]

FWIW, several birds will share a nipple even when many are available because chickens are social creatures. So, it's rare that more than one nipple on a bucket is in use at any given moment. I generally install 2 nipples on a 5g as far apart as possible so I have room to put a block under one for juveniles.

I'm just planning to keep a few ,I know a couple elderly that carry water to Their Chicken lot . these will be a big help to Them Thanks for the tip about the block

 

[Col1948]

I tried the nipple bucket thing and mine just ignored it.

 

[mumofsix]

I used the cups/ with floats before and They were ok only think They were Not good for me in the Winter. I also used fish tank heaters in pans of water which worked good ; I also used a pond pump in the storage tank , That worked perfect

 

[debid]

I tried the nipple bucket thing and mine just ignored it.

I switched my parents' flock over for them in two quick visits. It worked like this: Step one, install nipple bucket leaving the current water source in place. Step two give them time to get over the fear of something different. I was visiting weekly so they got a week. Step three, remove all water except nipple bucket and pull up a chair to wait. Once I'd observed the chickens drinking from the nipples, that was the end of training time and they were expected to continue using their new bucket, no other choice. Chickens don't love change so you have to force the issue but they will be just fine. It was pretty obvious they'd already tried it when I wasn't there watching because none of them seemed anxious or confused, they just got a drink at the bucket and went about their chicken business.

 

[debid]

Oh, and I add a 250W bucket de-icer in the winter. Works great!

 

[mumofsix]

Oh, and I add a 250W bucket de-icer in the winter. Works great!

Thanks so much the barn in up hill out from a small cabin that has electric that I'm I the process of running power from to the barn . Figure that will save a ton of headaches. I'll strt looking for the Bucket De-icer . I Hate waiting til the last minute . again Thanks

 

[blackdog043]

I came home and ordered the nipples 50/$ 11.00 on E-bay

I used the cups/ with floats before and They were ok only think They were Not good for me in the Winter.

For the price you paid for the nipples, I'm guessing they are vertical nipples. They will freeze in the winter, even with heating the water, I'm sure the cups froze a too. Also vertical nipples tend to leak/drip. If you want something that's gonna work well for you year round, buy some horizontal nipples and get the 250 watt stock tank de icer. Here's how I set my waterer up for the winter. You get colder temps than me, but the same set up works for people up north.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

 

[debid]

For the price you paid for the nipples, I'm guessing they are vertical nipples. They will freeze in the winter, even with heating the water, I'm sure the cups froze a too. Also vertical nipples tend to leak/drip. If you want something that's gonna work well for you year round, buy some horizontal nipples and get the 250 watt stock tank de icer. Here's how I set my waterer up for the winter. You get colder temps than me, but the same set up works for people up north.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

The vertical nipples have a metal rod the full length and that rod conducts heat. I haven't had one freeze up ever. Now, granted I use a de-icer and the bucket is indoors so not out in the wind. It also doesn't get colder than maybe -2F once every five years here. But, I'm not understanding how positioning the rod horizontally makes it less prone to freezing. It's still just a metal rod in a plastic housing, right?