Hate my Waterer!

[nminusyplusm]

We are in northern CA. We got tons of rain and some frost but no hard freezes. I’ve never had their water freeze.

Then it sounds like you could use either cups or horizontal nipples. I just prefer the nipples as they don't collect any debris as I imagine might be the case with cups. My girls love to scratch up a storm.

 

[jreardon1918]

5 gallon bucket with 3 horizontal nipples. No water (or food inside coop). The pullets took to this the very first day it was set up. I did use Teflon tape on the threads. No leaks. Even at below zero F, the stock tank deicer kept the water flowing. The "dirt" in the picture is from the DLM getting on the bucket.

 

[Stephine]

With the cups, they have to hit the yellow paddle, to make the water come out. They will freeze if you are in a cold climate. I've not read many good reviews on here about them.

If you want an easy, no fuss, clean water 24/7 I highly recommend the horizontal nipples. Use a five gallon bucket, with a gamma lid. Use a one gallon milk jug and add water when needed. You can use a de-icer and your waterer will work in the winter.

Not true. The dine-a-chook cups fill themselves, they have a floater (much like a toilet tank) to stop the flow when there is a little bit of water in the cup. Absolutely zero learning curve. There are other cups where the chicken has to peck at a lever, but the ones dine a chooks are different and much better. I love mine for hot weather. In regular temperatures we use a nipple waterer.