[EMERGANCY]Cant get chickens to use nipple drinker!

[ben0125]

Have you considered smearing the nipples with peanut butter and maybe sticking a bit of scratch to the peanut butter to get them pecking at the nipples?

Just tried it, they pecked at the nipples and water was coming but once all the peanut but goes away they spot pecking it until I put more on. I don't think putting the feed on it was necessary because they were fine with peanut butter.

 

[rebrascora]

Just typing the words "smearing the nipples" had me cringing and waiting for the barrage of ribaldry. You guys are so polite!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Just tried it, they pecked at the nipples and water was coming but once all the peanut but goes away they spot pecking it until I put more on. I don't think putting the feed on it was necessary because they were fine with peanut butter.

Could you tell if they got some water while they were doing that?

 

[ben0125]

Could you tell if they got some water while they were doing that?

I think the majority went straight onto the grass, they were just focused on the nipple. (Saying nipple sounds extremely weird). I can tell they are still looking for water but they wont peck at the nipples

 

[ben0125]

Ok they still haven't learned it yet so I think I should just give them a bowl of water

 

[Dayrel]

Sounds best for now. You can try again tomorrow, but you don't want to let them go too long without water.

 

[Stephanie Mitchell]

Mine definitely prefer a bowl over the nipple, and I think it's just because it's more work to peck the nipple. I'm working now on creating some kind of cup to go under the nipple to catch some of the water that falls, hoping it will encourage the nipple drinking.. the only reason I'd like them to use it is I have an aquarium heater in the nipple bucket to keep the water from freezing, and I'll be going on a week long trip mid February and don't want my mom to have to bucket a bunch of water down to the coop. Anyone know of any hacks to add some cups on the nipples?

 

[ben0125]

Mine definitely prefer a bowl over the nipple, and I think it's just because it's more work to peck the nipple. I'm working now on creating some kind of cup to go under the nipple to catch some of the water that falls, hoping it will encourage the nipple drinking.. the only reason I'd like them to use it is I have an aquarium heater in the nipple bucket to keep the water from freezing, and I'll be going on a week long trip mid February and don't want my mom to have to bucket a bunch of water down to the coop. Anyone know of any hacks to add some cups on the nipples?

There are things very similar to that.

 

[Stephanie Mitchell]

Yes they are, only I already have nipples installed and would like to see if I can find some kind of innovative nipple attachment. If not I guess I have a project on my hands, maybe little shot glasses can be finagled into nipple cups. Things get creative in Canada !

 

[christwodog]

They make horizontal nipple waterers, I use them with no issues. I used to smear little pieces of hard boiled egg on them to get the chickens' attention at first. I, too, worried that they were not getting enough water in the beginning, so I would leave them with a bowl full of ice cubes (it's always hot in S. FL). I figured as a last resort, the ice would eventually melt, but it would "force" them to try the new waterer until the ice melted. I did this for the first week, while I was gone all day at work.