Introducing chicks to a nipple waterer.

I have seen people here using a hamster or rabbit water bottle in the brooder, so that's what I did for mine. I just got my chicks this morning and I have been teaching them to use it. Three out of six are pros now, and the others are curious about it but I think they'll catch on soon. I really didn't want to put a dish of water in the brooder - so I am determined to teach them how to click the nipple. In their coop, they will have a full size nipple watering bucket, so I figured the hamster bottle would be good practice.

Updated to add that now five of six have got the water bottle down! They seem to like it and took to it really well.

 

I start all my chicks on a nipple waterer from the time they get here. Love the clean water, being able to just use a spatula to lift off any damp shavings directly under the waterer instead of having to change the entire pen every time they dump water, and I love hearing those little "clicks" that tell they are tripping the trigger and drinking just what they need. I start them on vertical, and as soon as they are bigger and stronger I switch them to horizontal, which is what they'll use out in the run.