do chickens prefer bowls of water to the nipple system?

[shortstaque]

Quote:
From the research I've done the recommendation is one nipple per 10 birds, so one is plenty for just a few birds. I've also read that staying near the 1/10 ratio helps keep the nipples cleaner and leak less because the more frequent use washes away any debris that can harbor bacteria or make the nipple stay stuck in the open position and drip constantly. (I have yet to have this happen) One consideration when using nipple waterers is to make sure the height is the correct level for the age/size of the bird.

I have 3 nipples indoors and 3 outdoors for my 23 chickens. In the summer I put icecubes in the water midday and the birds go crazy for it. I too think the nipple water offers the freshest water for my birds and mimics what I see them do naturally, which is to collect the beads of water they find on their shade cloth, leaves, and the chicken wire fencing. One word of caution, if you have any birds with special needs you may need to offer accomodations. I have one with a crossed beak and one that has a hard time raising her neck, that use a water bowl to ensure that they get enough to drink.

Interestingly enough, nipple waterers may help with feather picking and other management issues, especially for flocks that don't have alot of space or don't have access to fresh pasture on a daily basis. The reason behind this is that using the nipples also satisfies the pecking instinct, keeping them busy pecking it for water instead of feathered friends just for kicks.

Kudos to all of you trying to keep your birds happy and healthy with a supply of clean water, whether from a frequently cleaned bowl or a nipple system.

 

[AnnainMD]

Tamra, have you had much success with the coffee chaff? I was able to try it when I first filled up my coop with bedding but it seemed to compact significantly within a couple of months, despite my repeated fluffing. So far the pine shavings have had a better track record. I can't get the chaff anymore, I was just wondering how well it was working for you. And I understand about it flying everywhere, it was CRAZY how much would get around when the girls would jump, it was like snow.

You don't need to defend yourself for wanting to use an efficient, clean system, when the goal is clean water, the methods that one can efficiently and consistently employ are the best ones.

 

[Judy]

Out of maybe 70 chickens over the last few years, I saw two or three drink from a nipple type waterer, and I offered it for many weeks. They would wait til they could get at the dew on the plants, or a mud puddle. I have no doubt you can eventually train them to use nipples, but I'm simply not going to bother.

I have plain old waterers in the coop that I fill every day or two. Outdoors, they have a bowl with a garden hose end in it which happens to leak a little. Rather than replace the faucet, I decided to let it be their always fresh water. They use it all the time, enough that it really isn't all that wet in the area.

 

[shortstaque]

Quote:
For those interested in training them to use the nipples, just pour water over the top of the nipple waterer, making water stream down the sides. The chickens are always interested in running water and flock to check it out. They start chugging it down and you stop pouring water over the top. They will peck around curiously and realize that, if they peck the nipple, water appears on command. I think the key is to not give them an option, they will choose a grungy bowl or puddle over the nipple. In the beginning I continued to offer traditional water indoors and put the nipple waterer outside where they spent most of their time. Within a day or two, they wouldn't make a special trip inside anymore, they just used the nipple waterer outside. I do agree that they will always be attracted to standing water. I continue to use bowls of water like a treat on occasion. But, for the health of my flock, I don't let them stand around and accumulate muck.

 

[ericsplls]

I'm building a new coop and plan to use nipple waterers in it. For those that use a resevoir instead of a low pressure regulator how long does the water stay fresh. I was thinking of using a ball valve in the end of my line to rinse out my feeders every day or two to keep fresh water in the line. Poultry nipples are nothing close to whats natural to a chicken. A mud puddle is natural and chickens prefer them there is no argument on that. Having 10 chickens in a 10x10 coop is also far from natural and cleanliness is more important in a confined setting than in the wild. In a natural setting a chicken would likely roost in a different spot every few days and feed in a different spot constantly moving around what would be considered a home range. If they pooped in a puddle it wouldn't matter because tomorrow they would be at a different puddle. They also wouldn't need as much water because the moisture content of their feed would be higher. It's not that I mind the hour I spend cleaning and filling waterers every evening and want to be able to set back and let a low maintenance system raise chickens for me but the fact that I would rather spend that hour picking up chickens looking around their vents for mites, checking out their beaks, giving them treats, making them more of "pets" instead of a part time job.

 

[chicnchic]

I use the "nipple"/drip system for cleanliness....

I researched all of the suggestions/preferences by other members before getting my chickens,

and as I too work, decided to start them right out this way.

I didn't have the "nipples"/drip dispensers

yet, so I picked up a couple of small rabbit waterers

that had red tips to attract the chicks....they took to them immediately and when they were big enough to hand a 5 gallon pail in their hen house, I switched them over to that...within 1/2 hour all were drinking their fill from the pail.

Later, as they got bigger and were able to go out into their (net covered) yard, my hubby built me another one that has a hose attached in order to afford them water both inside and out of the hen house from the same pail. I have taken this in now since it's getting cold here, and once it begins to freeze I plan to get a submersible heater (made for aquariums) to put in the bucket to keep it from freezing.

My flock is content and healthy, and I LOVE to see them all scattered around their 'yard'...some scratching, some all fluffed and in a "nest" they have made in the ground, and some hunting bugs etc.....

It's a good feeling to see them all so content.

I love my birds,

but they're here to meet our needs, and my job is to see to it that they're well cared for as well.

If I used the standard waterers, they would not always be nice and clean as the "drip on demand" system I use now is, due to my other obligations..... BTW, I REALLY hate that it's called a "nipple system"

as nipples need to be suckled, and that is not the case with the "drip on demand" units!

My flock does well, and I do well with this system and I urge everyone to at least TRY it....I DARE you!

 

[greenSearcher]

When I got the Naked Neck Chicks (6) last month I had to start with the traditional waterer as the nipples hadn't arrived. It was a repeat of my first experience, filthy water and spill, even with only 6 chicks. Now they have a 1/ gallon jug with nipples in the bottom suspended just above head height. No spills, no mess, and they drink about half the water over hours. I clean and change it every couple days, checking it daily for quality. It took them about 30 seconds to learn to use the nipple waterer. Will be converting the waterers outside to nipples for the same reason, cleanliness. They will still have their wading pool in the summer if they want warm icky water to drink.

 

[chicnchic]

Quote:

I thought about doing that too, but was afraid I'd be growing Mosquitoes! LOL...no icky water for me tyvm!! lMBO!!

 

[Tamra]

Quote:
So far I am having good luck with the coffee chaff. I rake/fluff it once a day and I have it about 3-4 inches deep. I will be trying the deep litter method this winter. I am also going to start to use DE to keep things dry. I have noticed the wetter the poo the more of a clump will form. The main thing is it's free, breaks down more quickly in the compost pile and is supposed to be great for the garden. I'll let ya know next spring.
Not sure of the number of birds you have but I only have 7 at this time and they are in a 6x8 coop but only overnight. During the day they are in their run (16x12) or free ranging in my yard.
Yes, the chaff does fly!

One of the chicks flapped her wings and I couldn't see from one side of the coop to the other. Thankfully it seems to settle quickly. For the most part the chaff is the worst when I first put it down then after a day or so it is not too bad.

 

[Cynthia12]

Any home made water pictures of these waters with the nipples..we really want to try this. Thanks!