How long for chicks to learn cup water system?

[Viking84]

I moved my 4 week old chicks into their full size house today and put in a 5 gallon bucket with the red cups for water. The chicks drink out of the cups with no problems. But they have not figured out how to peck at the yellow valve stems to refill the cups once the water runs low. Anyone know how long it usually takes for them to learn how to do this?

 

[azygous]

Several years ago, I thought those cup things were the final word in chicken watering. I had to have some. I had to special order them from TSC. Got them and immediately set to work converting some bottles and buckets, and hung them. I had a flock of adults, a broody with chicks and I thought how convenient it would be especially for a broody since she and the chicks would be able to drink from the same waterer.

The conclusion of my tale is that while everyone had no problem drinking from the red cups, no one, adults, broody or chicks ever learned to peck the yellow trigger to fill the cup. They are no longer in use. I now use Igloo water coolers with vertical nipples.

 

[Shellebelle920]

I probably won’t be much help, but I taught my freshly hatched chicks how to use a stem waterer right out of the incubator. I just pressed their beaks to the tips, and they all took it from there. Maybe try to retrain them by pressing their beaks to the nipple waterer, or I’ve even read that some people put black sunflower seeds leaned up against the nipple, so that the chicks incidentally peck the stem. I don’t know if that helps, but it could be worth a shot. Good luck!

 

[StarChicken]

I have a five-gallon bucket with the watering cups. The first time, I filled each cup by pressing the yellow thingy for them. They drank all the water, and in searching the bottom of the cup for more water, they inadvertently press the yellow thingy and get more water.

Chickens are smart; once one of them learns something, the rest follow suit.

Now, if I could just convince them that oyster shells are good for them, I'd have eggs with stronger shells.

 

[chkva]

I just started with the watering cups... Mine haven't figured it out, I go out every couple hours while they're there and push it for them. I'm hoping some day they'll figure it out. I left their old waterer out so they can choose. So far 2 of my 3 like the cups better.

Chicks are easier than full grown chickens to train I think. Just push their beak on the stems and they'll realize thats how the water comes out. Might take a few times a day for a couple days, but they should get it.

 

[chkva]

I have a five-gallon bucket with the watering cups. The first time, I filled each cup by pressing the yellow thingy for them. They drank all the water, and in searching the bottom of the cup for more water, they inadvertently press the yellow thingy and get more water.

Chickens are smart; once one of them learns something, the rest follow suit.

Now, if I could just convince them that oyster shells are good for them, I'd have eggs with stronger shells.

I'm in the same predicament as you with the oyster shell. I did their egg shells, they look at them and swear if they could roll their eyes they would. So yesterday I bought oyster shell... My OE picked a piece up, looked at me and dropped it right by me Maybe she thinks I need calcium but she is the one laying shells that aren't so great out of my three. I've been giving her cut up kale every day and it seems to be helping. But my kale hasn't grown yet so I was hoping she'd go for the oyster shell!

 

[StarChicken]

I'm in the same predicament as you with the oyster shell. I did their egg shells, they look at them and swear if they could roll their eyes they would. So yesterday I bought oyster shell... My OE picked a piece up, looked at me and dropped it right by me Maybe she thinks I need calcium but she is the one laying shells that aren't so great out of my three. I've been giving her cut up kale every day and it seems to be helping. But my kale hasn't grown yet so I was hoping she'd go for the oyster shell!

I finally figured it out! I saw that some advocate popping a calcium pill down the chicken's throat, which got me thinking . . . I have three laying hens, one older hen no longer laying and Old Daddy Roo. I did not want to capture each one and force feed her a calcium pill!

Why not crush the calcium and put it in their feed. Not the best of my ideas, but there's gotta be a way. My final solution:

1 cup laying pellets
1 cup whole milk
2 600 mg calcium pills

Whiz the laying pellets in a blender (I use the small Ninja) to make them into laying crumbles. Put into a bowl and set aside.

Whiz the calcium pills with the milk so they're totally crushed.

Add the milk/calcium mixture to the crumbles, let it set for long enough to create a nice wet slush, put into a flat bowl and watch the hens (and Daddy Roo) go to town on it! It's gone in minutes!

Since I know chickens will eat until they burst, I figured one cup of the mixture between the five should be sufficient. The "recipe" can be adjusted for however many chickens one has. Mine will get this mixture every day until the egg shells improve.

Then I'm going to be sure to use a higher protein feed that has calcium added.