Cups vs Nipples??

[Kristencardany]

Just wondering what do people use and prefer? Cups vs nipples? Less mess, cleaner, fresher water, ease of use, problems? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Nipples. I tried the cups on my flock, and not a one out of two dozen chickens ever got the hang of it. The vertical nipples caught right on.

 

[Panhandler80]

About to give cups a shot with my first flock ever. I sure hope they work!

 

[Punkybrewster]

Mine prefer the cups vs nipples. They have to be old enough to move the toggle to get water though.

 

[ChickenMamaLissa]

Mine are all about the nipples. It keeps the coop dry, and the water dust-free.

 

[Abriana]

I use nipples, less messy I think. My chickens like them as well.

 

[Panhandler80]

I thought I had read that cups tended to be less messy than nipples. Did I have it backwards?

 

[RoosterML]

I thought I had read that cups tended to be less messy than nipples. Did I have it backwards?

Yes you have it backwards, cups get dirty. Cups also freeze.
Horizontal Nipples hands down are the best. Especially in cold climates. Yes I have tried the cups so I am speaking from experience.

 

[Panhandler80]

Yes you have it backwards, cups get dirty. Cups also freeze.
Horizontal Nipples hands down are the best. Especially in cold climates. Yes I have tried the cups so I am speaking from experience.

I'm not too worried about freezing. The surface might freeze over 2-3x per year here, and that would only be the outside cups.

Dirt is of concern. The plan was to have them about 10-11" off the ground, and they will be underneath a little roofing material. Where does the dirt come from? Birds beaks? I can't imagine them kicking up dirt into them. I also plan to have them in four separate stations, so it's not like the same 1, 2 or even 3 cups are being hit all the time. Or do the chickens fill them up with partially eaten food? Is that the dirt that you're referring to?

Maybe I should look into the nipples, though. Could always do cups inside and nipples out. I didn't want nipples inside because I've read that they always drip a little when the chickens use them.

 

[RoosterML]

I'm not too worried about freezing. The surface might freeze over 2-3x per year here, and that would only be the outside cups.

Dirt is of concern. The plan was to have them about 10-11" off the ground, and they will be underneath a little roofing material. Where does the dirt come from? Birds beaks? I can't imagine them kicking up dirt into them. I also plan to have them in four separate stations, so it's not like the same 1, 2 or even 3 cups are being hit all the time.

Maybe I should look into the nipples, though. Could always do cups inside and nipples out. I didn't want nipples inside because I've read that they always drip a little when the chickens use them.

Yep the cups get dirty from birds beaks. It doesn’t take long either.
I have HN inside the coop, they do drip alittle when birds use them. I have a raised 5gal bucket with them so I slide a wood stand under the bucket to catch the drips so they don’t soak the wood chips. Works good.
You can kinda see it in photo if you zoom in.