How to get my chickens to use nipple waterer?

[efowl24]

When I moved them to the run from the brooder, I took a 5 gallon bucket and drilled holes for the little cups waterers to go into, but they got so dirty so fast. Even with me wiping them out and dumping them every day they would get so nasty, and in the summer mosquitoes would lay their eggs in there. So, I tried to swap the little cups out for nipple waterers. They just couldn’t get the hang of it. I probably made the mistake of leaving a cup or two still on the bucket and only changed the majority to nipples, but I was afraid they’d not be able to figure it out and go without water. I would tap them to get water to come out to show them how it would work, and it occasionally would get one of them to come peck at it, but then they wouldn’t use it once I stopped. Is there a better way to get them to learn? Or is my best bet to just remove all cups and replace them with nipples and keep tapping to get the water out until someone comes and learns and hope the rest follow? Are there certain nipple waterers that work best?

Also, while talking about water, what do yall use for water dishes in the winter in freezing temps? I’m wanting to get some kind of heated waterer but not sure what’s best. Lots of them seem to have the nipples, which is another reason I’m wanting to get this taken care of before we get freezing temps haha

 

[thecatumbrella]

Premier 1 makes a heated horizontal nipple waterer. It's high quality, and a good incentive to teach them how to use it now. When I transition my pullets to horizontal nipples (in the fall), I start by replacing their regular waterers with the new nipple style for several hours each afternoon. This ensures everyone gets a drink at least in the morning and before bed. Keep tapping and drawing them over when you get a chance. Some birds just take longer than others to get the hang of it. Once I'm confident they're all drinking from it, I'll make it the permanent waterer.

Nipple height also matters. Try to get it at or a little below beak level; not overhead or something they need to extend their necks to use. Some brands are also more difficult to depress. The RentACoop brand has worked well for my girls.

Good luck! I know it can be slow going, but it's worth the effort.

 

[Sefirothe]

Seconding the Premier1 heated waterer. I have one and its going into its third winter now. We use it year round, I just remove the power cord in the summer.

Usually once one chicken figures out the nipples, the rest catch on pretty quickly.

I usually start out with an open waterer for the first week or two in the brooder, then hang a nipple waterer, tapping it with my fingers to get the chicks interested. After a week of both waterers available I figure most have had a go at the nipple waterer and take out the open waterer.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The main thing is to get a few birds onboard, the others will follow. If you know that at least some of the flock can use the nipple waterer I'd switch over completely to the nipples, and then keep an eye on the others to ensure they're at least trying it.

I don't teach chicks at all anymore, they just learn by copying adults. Adults can learn from other adults too.



I also have a Premier 1 heated waterer but if you have a homemade waterer you can try a heated base or a submersible heater. I know it's not ideal but I used to use an aquarium heater.

 

[Sefirothe]

The main thing is to get a few birds onboard, the others will follow. If you know that at least some of the flock can use the nipple waterer I'd switch over completely to the nipples, and then keep an eye on the others to ensure they're at least trying it.

I don't teach chicks at all anymore, they just learn by copying adults. Adults can learn from other adults too.

View attachment 4243597

I also have a Premier 1 heated waterer but if you have a homemade waterer you can try a heated base or a submersible heater. I know it's not ideal but I used to use an aquarium heater.

Thanks for reminding me I need to put some blocks on one side of mine so the littles can reach the nipples too. They just got released from the brooder today, and still have their waterer in their brooder they can access but I should make sure they can get to the adult waterer in the run too!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for reminding me I need to put some blocks on one side of mine so the littles can reach the nipples too. They just got released from the brooder today, and still have their waterer in their brooder they can access but I should make sure they can get to the adult waterer in the run too!

I ended up leaving the steps in full time. Some of the adults prefer not having to "reach up" for water so this gives them a different angle to access it.

 

[Debbie292d]

The main thing is to get a few birds onboard, the others will follow. If you know that at least some of the flock can use the nipple waterer I'd switch over completely to the nipples, and then keep an eye on the others to ensure they're at least trying it.

I don't teach chicks at all anymore, they just learn by copying adults. Adults can learn from other adults too.

View attachment 4243597

I also have a Premier 1 heated waterer but if you have a homemade waterer you can try a heated base or a submersible heater. I know it's not ideal but I used to use an aquarium heater.

Ditto this!

Every bird here, from 2 days old on up, uses one form of nipple bucket or bottle.

We also use an aquarium heater in the 5-gallon nipple bucket in one coop because even though it's heated to 40°F, that water still freezes in the coldest weather. We have another in one of the growout pens outside. We have them plugged into a thermo cube so that it's not on if the temperature is above 45°F. Otherwise, they run constantly. They're very low wattage though.

 

[Debbie292d]

Premier 1 makes a heated horizontal nipple waterer. It's high quality, and a good incentive to teach them how to use it now. When I transition my pullets to horizontal nipples (in the fall), I start by replacing their regular waterers with the new nipple style for several hours each afternoon. This ensures everyone gets a drink at least in the morning and before bed. Keep tapping and drawing them over when you get a chance. Some birds just take longer than others to get the hang of it. Once I'm confident they're all drinking from it, I'll make it the permanent waterer.

Nipple height also matters. Try to get it at or a little below beak level; not overhead or something they need to extend their necks to use. Some brands are also more difficult to depress. The RentACoop brand has worked well for my girls.

Good luck! I know it can be slow going, but it's worth the effort.

We have three of those! I can attest that they can keep the water thawed outside at -20°F. We did have one start to ice up when we had days of -30°F, but put warm water in it, then draped a quilt over half of it for a couple of days until the cold snap was over.