Does the nipple have to go on the bottom?

[ZaneyMama]

I'm trying to make a nipple waterer out of a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot. Do the nipples have to go on the bottom? How do I get the bucket down to fill it?

Thanks!

 

[crperdue]

Put the nipples on the bottom. You hang the bucket from a rope or chain so that its at the
right height for your birds. Just fill another bucket and pour into the waterer if your hose
will not reach.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Yes. Take a hose TO the bucket?

 

[ZaneyMama]

LOL, I guess that makes sense! I'm so used to my annoying poultry waterer with the ridiculously difficult-to-remove top, that I am not thinking of the obvious!

 

[Wolfwoman]

LOL That happens!!

 

[Tater n Beans]

Yes the nipples need to go on the bottom so the chicken can drink properly.
Get it down from where? A 5 gallon bucket is awfully heavy when full of water.

 

[new chick 203]

I'm working on this project too. My question is how do you train your birds to use it? I sort of pointed to it and they pecked at it a bit, but then went back to their old waterer. It's so hot, I don't have the heart to take the other away yet.

 

[shopchicks]

The other thing you can do is put the nipples in a piece of PVC pip and T that out from the lower part of the bucket side. I have unthinkingly put my bucket down on the ground when it was full of water and the nipples are none the worse for wear from it (I take it down so I can clean it before I fill it).