How to get my chickens to drink out of a cup waterer?

[Polish Hen House]

I have a cup waterer and I always have to fill the cups for the chickens. They don’t understand that they have to peck at the waterer to get water. Any suggestions on how to teach them?

 

[cavemanrich]

2 things come to mind.............
I have Polish Chickens also. They have limited vision due to their hairdo. They just possibly reach only on surface of water. What happens when the cups are low and your chickens attempt to drink???
Second thing in my thinking,,,,,,,,,,,,,, is that the cups are too high for them to comfortably push down actuator. Place some platform of sort (for chickens to stand on) so they will actually need to lower their heads to drink...
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[blackdog043]

I'm no help, but this is a common question/problem with this style waterer. They will also freeze when it gets cold enough and I have read that they can leak around the threads.

I use horizontal nipples, my chickens don't have a problem getting used to them and they won't freeze in the winter, if you use a stock tank deicer in the bucket.

 

[ketojenn]

They learn eventually. Mine all did once I took away all other water sources. Now they use them without issue.

 

[Birdsong 82]

May be a silly suggestion because I’m not used to cup waters but could you possibly put something shiny and the bottom that they obviously can’t eat or choke on. That’s how I taught my chickens to drink out of their waters they want to peck the shiny object and then realize after a while when they do that there is water there

 

[Chickassan]

Just drop a mealworm in the cup, but let them see you do it.