How hard is it to train chickens to use a nipple waterer?

[Stephanie8806]

Chances are your tote lid isn't airtight, so no need for a vent.

Oh Im sure it’s not air tight, but two little holes wouldn’t hurt. Better safe that sorry!

 

[CHlCKEN]

Just dip there beaks in they will learn on there own.

“Their”
It’s not that simple as adults unfortunately.

 

[black_cat]

I forgot to mention that two of my birds have clipped beaks (NOT clipped by me). Would I have to use cups instead? Or would neither type work?
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Does anyone know about this? I don't want to buy a water and find out that two of my girls can't use it.

 

[aart]

Does anyone know about this? I don't want to buy a water and find out that two of my girls can't use it.

I don't know for sure, but I would think they could use it tho it might take longer for them to learn.
Might start a new thread titled "clipped beaks and horizontal nipples".

 

[RebekahTN]

I tapped the nipples with my finger to start the water drips to attract their attention but, since it was mid-summer I didn't initially remove the other water source.

After a few days I wedged dried mealworms into the nipples so that they'd understand that it was wet there when they took the mealworms.

After a couple days of that I started taking the other waterer out at night and not putting it back until they'd been up for a few hours -- putting it back later and later until I was 100% certain that they were all drinking from the nipples.

The transition could definitely be done more efficiently when it's not 90+F but it was July in NC when they outgrew the chick waterer and were dumping it in the brooder every other day.

I'm considering getting this heated waterer from Premier 1:

I *could* make one but I don't think I'd save much money by the time I bought the quality de-icer, the quality nipples (cheap ones leak), and an appropriate, 3-gallon, food-grade bucket (I can get 5-gallon buckets at work but can't lift 5 gallons of water so I want a 3-gallon container instead).

My current waterer is 1-gallon and I have a smaller one to use as a second source in hot weather (I have near-unlimited access to "5-lb", plastic, deli-salad containers (about half a gallon), at work).

Note: If you make your own nipple waterer and it has an airtight lid you MUST poke a small, vacuum-release hole on the side above the maximum water level. I had trouble with my first nipple waterer before I enlarged that hole from needle-sized to nail-sized.

This is one of the ones I have and I love it. Kept the water warm all winter and it is insulated well keeping water cooler longer in the summer than some of the others I have tried.

 

[RebekahTN]

Does anyone know about this? I don't want to buy a water and find out that two of my girls can't use it.

My ducks have figured out how to drink from them (chickens taught them not me - as I know they need to clean their noses out) so I would think ones with clipped beaks could as well. Ducks have a flatter rounder bill, more the shape of a clipped beak I would think.

 

[RebekahTN]

This one is my favorite out of all the ones I have used for a flock. It holds 12 gallons and the lid has a spot for cords built in so you can add a deicer and or circulation pump. I have one of them set up by my rain barrel system so it is easy to top off. I have been using it almost a year and have not had problems with algae build up. It's pretty thick so keeps water cooler longer in the summer than some I have used. It is from TSC.

 

[aart]

have been using it almost a year

Got pics of it in your setup @RebekahTN ?
Would love a closer look at the nipples.
Do you use a heater in it??

 

[RebekahTN]

Got pics of it in your setup @RebekahTN ?
Would love a closer look at the nipples.
Do you use a heater in it??

The first pic is a pic from TSC website so you can see the nipples. The second is my littles eating out of the matching feeder and the 3rd is my set up. It is right beside my rain barrel so it is quick and easy to fill.

 

[aart]

The first pic is a pic from TSC website so you can see the nipples.

They look weird there.
Can't hardly see them in your pic, it blurs out when I zoom in.