Horizontal Nipple Waterers... in your opinion, yes or no?

[Lemon-Drop]

I currently have those plain old chicken waterers, you know, these: (not my photo, and not the exact ones, but basically the same)

I share a flock with my sister (@Starburst) and I have been really wanting to switch to this style, especially as we have rats (trying to get rid of them!) and I’ve seen them drink from the fountain waterers, which is NOT sanitary.

Another reason is that they basically splash the water up with their dirty feet and muddy it, and spill the water. I have to refill the two watered very often, which is a pain when one is 3 gallons and the hose is pretty far.

All in all, seems more sanitary, less work, however I do have some reservations. Well, more like Star has some reservations.

Here are her reservations:

Would stress them?

Unnatural?

How would you retrain them?

Chickens should be able to dip their combs in water. (I’m not sure about this one, but that’s what she says)



A few of my questions:

Where is the best place to purchase them?

How many can fit on a 2-3 gallon bucket (I don’t want to lift anything heavier than that)

How many for 16 chickens?

At what age can they start using them? (I have 3, 5 week olds, 7, 15 week olds, and the other 6 are full grown hens)

anyway, any help is appreciated!

 

[sdm111]

Put the waterers on cinder blocks or the like
Water will stay cleaner

 

[April0617]

I have them and think they are great! Everything stays so much cleaner. I do put out large shallow pans of water in shady areas on hot days, too, that I refill a few times during the day, because I've heard about the wattle thing, too, and they can stand in it if they want

 

[tripletfeb]

I have one for my three girls, love it! I had five hens drinking off of just one before. Mine has three nipples that come off of it. Mine also plugs in so the water doesn't freeze in the winter. To train them to drink from it, you have to remove all other water sources(maybe not the best idea in summer). Then show them where the water comes from. I had to physically grab each chicken and put their beak up to the nipple part. I will never use another waterer in my coop! I do have mine up on a couple blocks, so the girls can reach it better. This is the one I have

 

[Tortoise]

I use them on 5 gallon buckets. I really like them but haven't used anything else. I fill the bucket part way. When I'm going to be gone for a few days, their water and food doesn't need refilling.

 

[aart]

They are the bomb!
I use them in all sorts of containers, from the brooder to isolation crates to the main waterer that will take a heater in the winter.
They take some care, patience, and finesse to install successfully.
See my article page, several of them about HN's.

 

[nicolekathryn]

We tried this style and when we would put out water in a more easily accessible container, they would drink like they were thirsting to death. And yes, we had taught them how to use it and watched to make sure they were, etc. We use the cup style now.

 

[aart]

We tried this style and when we would put out water in a more easily accessible container, they would drink like they were thirsting to death. And yes, we had taught them how to use it and watched to make sure they were, etc. We use the cup style now.

Not unusual, doesn't mean they are not getting enough water via nipples.

I've had all age birds either pick it right up within an hour...and others that take weeks to really figure it out.

Here's my thoughts on 'nipple training'.

First, it's good to know how much water your flock consumes 'normally', I top off water every morning and have marks on the waterers so I know about how much they drink.

Found they drank just as much from the nipples as they did from the open waterer.

-Do not train to nipples during extreme temps when dehydration is more of a risk.

-Show them how with your finger(tho that might just train them to wait for your finger),
and/or manually grab them and push their head/beak onto the trigger(easier with chicks than adults).

-No other water source, best to 'train' during mild weather when dehydration is less of an immediate health risk. I do provide an open waterer late in day to make sure they don't go to roost dehydrated, especially young chicks.

It can take days or weeks to get them fully switched over, just takes observation, consistency, and patience.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Thank you everyone! I'm seriously considering these now... though the temperature is much warmer (highs in the 70-90s) than usual (usually a high of 60) for the next week or two so I might try it after the weather calms down a bit. Thank you!

 

[RoosterML]

Thank you everyone! I'm seriously considering these now... though the temperature is much warmer (highs in the 70-90s) than usual (usually a high of 60) for the next week or two so I might try it after the weather calms down a bit. Thank you!

I love HN for my chickens and quail.