Frozen water nipples...problem solved but now chickens won't use bucket. What to do?

[jgirl922]

We had a couple of days where the nipples froze on our water bucket. We have since gotten a warmer and my husband checks every day and the nipples are no longer freezing but I swear the chickens aren't using the buckets anymore. Eating snow instead etc. What should I do?

Thank you!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They probably gave up on them. Perhaps if you remove the bucket for a day and return it in a new location it will peak their interest.
Make sure that the nipples are eye level.

 

[aart]

Mine like to eat snow too if it's there...I mark the jug with the HN's in increments so I can track the water level drop, that's the only way to know how much they are drinking.

Try tapping the pins until you get one of them to drink, that one will show the rest.