How do you teach chicks to drink from cup waterers?

[logefarm]

Thanks for the replies everyone! We have the cups with the yellow lever that they have to push to trip the water. I've tried putting treats in the cups, and for the last two days have been pushing their beaks against the lever (gently) to show them. No dice. I have to keep an extra waterer out there because its been 100 degrees the last few days.
We'll keep trying, all your suggestions are great, keep em coming!!

 

[ChickenJerk]

The manufacturers of the upper end, industrial quality, cup drinkers offer a small floating ball that keeps water in the cup until the birds are conditioned to the idea that that is where the water comes from. They still go there after the ball is removed. They search for water and soon learn that by moving the trigger that they can get water that way,
Nipple drinkers solved most of the problems associated with cup drinkers so few cups are used today.

 

[Janie hall]

The manufacturers of the upper end, industrial quality, cup drinkers offer a small floating ball that keeps water in the cup until the birds are conditioned to the idea that that is where the water comes from. They still go there after the ball is removed. They search for water and soon learn that by moving the trigger that they can get water that way,
Nipple drinkers solved most of the problems associated with cup drinkers so few cups are used today.

the cups are new they just came out

 

[Leann Moot]

You can buy the cup or nipple wateres on Ebay or Bangoods.com.

 

[ParkersPack]

I learned about them on BYC, thought they seemed like a great option...
Here's an example-
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDgwMA==/z/mpsAAOSwymxVJtcx/$_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F

I'll keep trying! Any suggestions are so helpful, thanks!

I have been trying to get my chicks to use this product as well, with no luck. I go in to fill it up for them every hour or whenever it is empty. I was hoping they would learn to press down or even on the side but they are not, I don't have 35 dollars to throw at 4 of the valve operated ones for two chicks, so I am going back to the nipple. maybe when they get older they will get better. If anyone has any suggestions otherwise, I would really appreciate it. Thank you

 

[Dawnclucks22]

With cups, dip each little beak into the water so they know where it is.

 

[LisaMarie81]

Going to revive this thread from last year as having a similar problem, when I searched for answers this came up. Don't want to start a new thread on same problem.
I have the cup waters with the yellow lever as well and I have 8 clueless birds. I've tried dipping their beaks, pushing their beaks on the lever, strawberry treats below the lever and food below the lever hoping they'd go for the food and hit it and learn. They do go for the food, but they still haven't learned. The cup is dry all day once they finish off what's in it. They can't figure out how to fill it again.
I do keep water inside for them to get at all day, but with a heat wave of 5+ days coming now I'd like them to learn how to use this so they have access to water in multiple locations. Any ideas?
Or should I just give up at this point and try a natural float waterer that fills on it's own when the level goes down?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Try tinting the yellow trip-valve thingy with red lipstick

 

[pinkyorpington]

Gah! Same issue -- they don't need help knowing to look in the cup for the water, but once it's dry they can't figure out how to release more. @chickengeorgeto -- why would red lipstick work? Or were you kidding? Does ANYONE have a success story with these? I love that they can side mount -- can the nipples be used on the side of a jug too?

 

[blackdog043]

Does ANYONE have a success story with these?

Not to many that I can recall on here or by the reviews on amazon.
The best success story is, throw them out and order horizontal nipples from amazon. Drill an 11/32 hole, screw the nipples in leaving 2 - 3 threads showing, do not screw them all the way in. I leave my chickens for 8 days with 2 nipple waterers and 2 DIY no waste feeders and come back home to happy chickens that no one has looked after.