Chickens not using nipple waterer.

[PrickettPack07]

This is my water feeder setup but my chickens won’t use it. I have a year old Colombian Wyandotte, and 20 week old Easter egger, and two 2 month old cookies and cream.

I have held them up to it and tapped the beak on it, I have tapped on it myself and removed all water sources to get them to do it and they won’t.

Any tips on how to get them to use it?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Height looks fine, I assume you've checked to make sure that all the birds can reach it at that height?

Have you checked and made sure water is freely dripping (that is, that the body of the waterer is not forming a vacuum)?

When you tried removing all other water sources, how long do you keep this as their only option?

 

[PrickettPack07]

Height looks fine, I assume you've checked to make sure that all the birds can reach it at that height?

Have you checked and made sure water is freely dripping (that is, that the body of the waterer is not forming a vacuum)?

When you tried removing all other water sources, how long do you keep this as their only option?

Hi, yes I have tapped my finger on it multiple times to see it drip out. It seems like it’s free flowing.

And took the other water sources out for about 2 hours. But it’s in the high 90s so I didn’t want to go any longer and not see them drink.

Low enough for all the chickens to reach

 

[Debbie292d]

They should get used to it as all of our silkies, from 2 days old to years old have either verticle or horizontal nipples solely as their water. If silkies can manage it, every breed of chicken can.

 

[rosemarythyme]

And took the other water sources out for about 2 hours. But it’s in the high 90s so I didn’t want to go any longer and not see them drink.

If possible I'd wait until temps were lower (to reduce risk of dehydration) and you have a day to peek in on how they're doing, and then remove all other waterers for the entire day.