Determining If The Ladies Get Enough Water

[ChickenCanoe]

I beg to differ on this, my birds get plenty of water, I have no health or production issues with them that would suggest otherwise, but I guarantee you just the same, that anytime there is a 'new' open water available to them be it from me putting in a bowel/bucket, a left over puddle from an overnight rain or whatever they will swarm to it like they have not seen water in days just like they swarm the feeder every time I top it off even though they still had plenty of feed to eat in the feeder... And this doesn't only apply to those that use nipples, even when I used open waterers they did the same thing anytime a new open water source was shown to them, or even when I topped off the partially full waterers...

In addition to this it's not secret that nipples are a convenience to us not them, they would much prefer open water as a convenience to them and will almost always jump at an open water option vs nipples if given the choice...

I don't doubt that is your experience. I just know that when my nipples are working, the bulk of the birds start foraging when they come out in the morning. If the nipples are dry or non-functional, they all crowd the water. That's how I know there is a problem.

 

[Colleen556]

I use horizontal nipples for their main water. They have never had any issues with vertical ones when I used them in the past. As in, I rarely see them use the horizontal nipples whereas I saw plenty of action when we used the vertical ones.
And daylength have no play in this since both flocks are located in the same town.
They have full access to Scratch and Peck "Grower", just like the other flock, so they should have a very good diet since they eat plenty of that along with foraging and the treats we give them (BSF grubs, sunflower seeds, garden "waste" and so one.

Like I said, the environments for these two flocks (and the flocks themselves) are pretty much identical besides the water system and our additional foraging capabilities.

I'm simply surprised that the other flock started earlier than ours, since they have a slightly advantageous environment. Which is why I'm afraid of any health issues or variables that I can not see.

Are you sure they are not hiding the eggs