How do you get water and food to your chickens? (Share your storys!)

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Thank you. I just got back from a week vacation and all my birds are still alive. I am all about simple and cheap but effective automation.

Good!

 

[Plantgirl04]

Wow that is awesome!! Love it!

 

[Plantgirl04]

Wow that is awesome!! Love it!

 

[Rich386]

Same idea but auto fills.

 

[nlpeters]

The standard nipples have to hang vertically, If you have too much pressure in the system they will tend to drip more or they don't catch it all when they are drinking.  You can also put a trough under the nipples to catch drips..   Mine don't drip unless they are using it..   and i only water outside the coop in the run.

Thanks for the information. I am new to using the nipple system and had the same problem. So I guess my husband is going to have to buy a new bucket and start over. Not a problem. Our other problem is I don't think our 8 weeks old chicks have figured it out! We have been using the nipple system for a full day and I feel if it wasn't for the dripping water they wouldn't be getting enough to drink. I check on them several times a day and they appear thirsty and so I tap the nipples and get it dripping and they drink from the drips but won't peck at the nipples? What are we doing wrong?

 

[Mehjr10]

As long as they can reach them they will drink from it, some will still drink from the puddles, just because.. I start mine of at about day 4 with nipples, and have now 3+ wk olds with that as there only method of watering. They are in a mobile cage on grass so no puddles. So leave them with it and they will be ok.

 

[chick chicks]

When my chickens were little chicks they always used to tip their water dish over/ poop in it/ other yuck stuff in it (hadn't heard of chicken nipples yet) So I got a larger guinea pig water drip thing and it worked awesome for them

just had to tap at the end of it a few times for them to get the idea.

 

[nab58]

How do you keep the nipples waterer from leaking?  I made one and it dripped so badly, I quit using it as I don't want the coop or run always wet.

I had a problem with leakage and still can't figure out wht it leaks sometimes and other times not.
To deal with it I placed a pie tin filled with pebbles underneath and dump it as necessary.

 

[JumpinNrollin]

I had a problem with leakage and still can't figure out wht it leaks sometimes and other times not.
To deal with it I placed a pie tin filled with pebbles underneath and dump it as necessary.

I have installed no less than 30 of these in 6 different coops and have had zero issues. If you are using the threaded ones, wrap the threads in Teflon tape before screwing them in. If the push-in type with the black rubber are being used just make sure the hole is small enough that you have to really push the nipple hard to get it to seat (place the black grommet in first, then put the nipple in.

I have never had them leak and I have only used the red plastic and stainless steel needle type.

To teach the birds, I pick up a number of the chickens and press their beaks against the needle until water comes out and they get a drip or two. After that they know what it is all about and the others naturally just copy those birds, even if they don't know what they are doing. I have never seen it take a new flock more than 15 minutes to learn how to use them.

As far as simple and natural... Chickens naturally are not keep in coops, don't lay eggs in nesting boxes, don't eat chicken feed, don't eat oyster shell and don't drink out of plastic or metal containers. Don't knock it till you give it a try and see that your chickens will have a constant, NEVER dirty water supply and are just as happy as any other chicken.

This is a simple and easy system for chickens to be able to have all the water they want and need without having to wait on our schedules or attention to clean their water supply. There are also several really simple things to do in order to use this system even in the coldest climates (-20) with out the nipples freezing.

Not offended, so please don't be offended...just give it a try before putting a great system down.

BTW, I don't sell these, make them, or get any income for the endorsement either

 

[icsd71]

I'm simple in what i do. Plain waterere and feeder. I did see where people were saying that they had problems with the chicks getting poop, feed and bedding in there waterer. I elevated the waterer so it was harder for them to kick stuff in there or poop in there yet still make it so tyhey can drink. The feeder have is a hangin feeder it allows me to give them, 2 to 3 days worth of feed. I also sweep my yard after I mow and throw that in there. They go crazy over fresh cut grass! They eat the insects in the grass and the grass itself plus they love to roll and dust them selves in it. I would love to try and do an automatic waterere some day. Just not yet.