Do you use a hanging waterer?

[Usedtowanna]

I agree that it looks to low for vertical nipples, raise it up.

If you live in an area that gets freezing temperatures, vertical nipples will freeze, even with a heater inside the bucket. The other flaws with verticals are, they tend to drip as you noticed already and you can't set the bucket down when you want to clean it or refill it.

I use horizontal nipples and add a stock tank deicer for winter. Here's a link to my article, if your interested.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ock-tank-deicer-and-horizontal-nipples.74609/

I worked all day with the three hens after raising the waterer and showing them what to do but they never got it. I gave up, moved the waterer to the chicks so they can learn young and gave the big ladies their old waterer. I appreciate your suggestion to raise it up but alas I can't teach old hens new tricks. We are in Texas so freezing isn't an issue.