Coop watering question

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

So last fall i used a basic gravity waterer. There was the bucket you could fill and the ring and the. You flip it over and hang it. I would fill it twice a day. I found i needed more water after adding 3 hens and now having 13.

The 3 new ones came with this large watering system pictured. During the winter i just ended up using buckets and switched them out frequently due to some freezing.

So i am trying to work the watering system back in and the water level never seems to change in the bucket. None of the chickens seem to get it. It has been almost a week. I keep the gravity waterer, a bucket and the bigger system in their run to ensure they are drinking since the first few day i went with just the one and i was worried they weren’t drinking.

Will they figure it out or should i keep the backup system to be certain?

 

[wamtazlady]

As long as the chickens have a waterer that is easier to use, it is not worth their trouble to learn the new system. To get them to try using the new system you will have to remove the gravity system. You may have to show the chickens how the cups work by pushing the tab that lets water into the cups or even holding the chicken and pushing the beak against the tab.

That cup and bucket system will not work well in the winter. The water in the cups will freeze. You live in an area that gets cold in the winter. I would suggest you consider a bucket with horizontal nipples instead. Horizontal nipples do not freeze easily if they are used in a heated container. For example, I use an 11 gallon tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. My water has stayed thawed down to -22 F. The large size also means it only needs filled once a week or so. As with the cup and bucket system you would need to remove all other sources of water for the chickens to learn to use the nipples. I have been using nipples for 5 years now and never had a chicken go longer than a couple hours without figuring it out.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

I would pick up a few or all your hens and push their beak into the yellow part and dip their beaks and they should get it eventually

 

[anderstr196]

I just switched to one of these and was doing exactly what you are doing with a backup, they would never use the cups so I took out the backup. To help them figure it out I put some chia seeds in the bottom of the cups (they love chia seeds) and I also “pecked” the yellow part really quick to get them interested. I watched them most of that day and repeated the steps a few times throughout the day. The next day I didn’t need to do any prompting for them to peck out more water

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

As long as the chickens have a waterer that is easier to use, it is not worth their trouble to learn the new system. To get them to try using the new system you will have to remove the gravity system. You may have to show the chickens how the cups work by pushing the tab that lets water into the cups or even holding the chicken and pushing the beak against the tab.

That cup and bucket system will not work well in the winter. The water in the cups will freeze. You live in an area that gets cold in the winter. I would suggest you consider a bucket with horizontal nipples instead. Horizontal nipples do not freeze easily if they are used in a heated container. For example, I use an 11 gallon tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. My water has stayed thawed down to -22 F. The large size also means it only needs filled once a week or so. As with the cup and bucket system you would need to remove all other sources of water for the chickens to learn to use the nipples. I have been using nipples for 5 years now and never had a chicken go longer than a couple hours without figuring it out.

Yeah i stopped using it once there was a frost or 2 and noticed the difference i it’s functionality!

I just figured the 3 that came with it would remember as it’s the only watering system they ever used and they are 2. I will try the beak thing if they will let me rustle them up!

 

[blackdog043]

During the winter i just ended up using buckets and switched them out frequently due to some freezing.

Make a heated horizontal nipple waterer and make your life easier. If you use a five gallon bucket, it should last about a week before it needs to be refilled.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

Make a heated horizontal nipple waterer and make your life easier. If you use a five gallon bucket, it should last about a week before it needs to be refilled.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

And what a nice life that would be! If I only had electricity anywhere near my coop or barn! It’s solar power or nothing over here for us on the back of our property. So if anybody has any ideas for that send them my way!