Horizontal nipple waterer

[BrittanyTheYooper]

So I installed a new waterer now that my chickens are all grown up and in their coop, but how do I know if they are using it?! Or how do I train them because they typically scatter when I enter

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Well... you could pay attention to the water level, maybe?

I just leave the old waterer while they get used to seeing that one and get curious to investigate. One will check it out and others will follow suit. Monkey see, chicken do.

I would lock the door so they are shut in. They can scatter but after everyone calms down, maybe press the button yourself. Make some water drips appear.. or at least make the water visible somehow.

JUST for training I MIGHT sprinkle treats around the area to encourage investigation.

Once I see most or many drinking from whatever my selected device is.. then remove the old one.

Heck... I would go paint some polka dots (or marker) on that tub... give it a cute design of sorts. My daughter makes little murals for our chicks, but instead of filling in solid color she makes it more like the old school dot matrix printing. They LOVE it and go ton work building things every day, just pecking away! Plus it more fun to look at.

 

[blackdog043]

By now you might know if they are using it, but put a piece of tape at the top of the water level. If it goes down they are using it, the water will not evaporate like a standard waterer. Once one of them starts pecking at it, the others will follow.

 

[snow5164]

I hope you like that ....my 5 gallon waterer get mouldy before it’s done . Really watch and smell that amount of water, unless you have 254 birds

 

[blackdog043]

my 5 gallon waterer get mouldy before it’s done . Really watch and smell that amount of water, unless you have 254 birds

What kind of waterer are you using that gets moldy and is it out in the sun?
I have 2 horizontal nipple waterers(plastic buckets) that I just add water to. I might rinse them out once a month but usually there is no need to, so I don't.

 

[snow5164]

No it’s not in the sun , but it’s in the heat . Our cows water buckets are mouldy every week too , what kind of water do you have ? Must be town water with chlorine in it , we have plain old well water... I’ve never heard of someone not cleaning the waterer every week ....

 

[blackdog043]

Yes, it's city water, not well water, it's been hot and humid in NC. I think it's the closed up bucket that keeps all the algae from forming. An open bucket or standard waterer would get nasty sitting out even with city water, but it takes longer than a week.

 

[llombardo]

I have a heated one for winter. I put it out there and they didn't touch it for a month. I even put their heads to it and pecked it-nothing, nada, zilch.

 

[BrittanyTheYooper]

I still can’t tell I saw one pecking at it today but I don’t think she took a drink

 

[blackdog043]

If they take a drink, they usually tilt their head back a little and you see them moving their beak. Did you put tape at the water line? Do they have another water source they can drink from?