Chickens scared of new waterer…help!

[Folly's place]

I'd be concerned about an electrical issue also.
Mary

 

[Tonyroo]

If it's new there shouldn't be any worries, the worst possibilities would not switch on.

 

[Folly's place]

Never say never...
Fear of a new red object? Weird.
Mary

 

[Stephine]

Yeah, fear of new things: normal. Fear of a run of the mill waterer with red tray, placed right next to their regular waterer, for a week: something fishy is going on. And a new electric thing can have issues right out if the box. We’ve had the motor of a kitchen exhaust vent go up in flames on the first use once…

 

[jda2581]

I’ve touched the water in it. There’s nothing wrong with the waterer. They can’t get to the cord either. It’s safe for them. They are using it now. I just had to put some food around it for them to discover there’s water there.

 

[jda2581]

I spend some time teaching my young chickens to use new items. By being next to it and tapping my finger where they need to access it and letting some water drip out of it. You just need one to use it and the rest will follow. They learn by repetitive actions and from other chickens.

That’s basically what I did and it worked.

 

[SueT]

Glad it worked out—welcome to BYC!!

 

[Stephine]

Glad they got it now. I missed the part where you said there were only three chickens. It helps to have a slightly bigger crowd with things like that, because the likelihood of a bolder on in the crowd is higher. With just three it’s easier for them to all learn from the more scared one instead.

 

[Stephine]

oh, and just for the info, I think chickens will feel a smaller current than you, because you are probably wearing shoes and the chickens are barefoot on the ground.

 

[jda2581]

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips!