I've decided to give up my nipple waterers / observations

[matimeo]

I apologize if I came across defensive, and I certainly respect your right to do what you see fit with your chickens. Everyone's situation is different as well. I guess I was confused when you said you felt "they were not drinking as much with the nipple waterers than with the traditional waterer". I was only touching on that argument. Again, my apologies for any defensive tone that may have come through in my writing.

 

[jmagill]

No one was implying that you are a bad person. We just think the decision making process is based on your feelings not on the chickens needs. My husband would make the same choice you do. He also feeds the horses when ever they look at him sideways! I love him anyways.

 

[Cargo]

Gallo del Cielo -

(it's 82 degrees here right now cool)

**Grumble Grumble**

Just like your kids and chocolate, video games, tattoos and motorcycles.

Amen to that!​

 

[LauraG]

Quote:
Oh no problem, I know we all want was is best for us and we all love our chickens!! Thank you for clarifying that, it was kind of you.

 

[LauraG]

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LOL, I must be just like him, I do the same with the dog when he looks at me with those big brown eyes....(he must be starving right to death...)
Blessings,
Laura

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I completely agree. The frozen water issue would enough for me to switch.

 

[MakNugget]

Amen Neil.

Up until we had temperatures in the teens, I had supplied both nipple and conventional water to chickens. The only reason I started offering the conventional unit was because I had a chukar in the mix and it wasn't caring for the nipple.

My chickens take their water from both sources fairly equally just fine. When they only had a nipple to go to, they were guzzling water from the nipple. I know this because I watch them DAILY (yes daily... lol) from a netcam throughout the day, guzzling away. This has provided a lot of insight to the very same worries some have expressed over nipple systems, especially during the hot summer when hydration is very important. The cameras give me some valuable feedback as to how the chickens respond to various stimuli and their daily routine and cohabitation.

Since my water source for the indoor nipple exists outside with lots of tubing (= instant freeze), I pretty much plan to retire it until next spring and leave the conventional unit for the time being. I'll likely add some kind of compact nipple contraption on the inside as soon as I figure out a stable yet easy to fill/clean design.

 

[BunnyMomma]

I started to get some of the nipple waterers, but I worried about the freezing too. I'm glad I didn't get them. I use a large, heavy duty plastic feed pan. It is about 20 inches across and 3 inches tall. I fill it up in the mornings when I let them out. I really like the way it works. In the summer I fill up a plastic waterer and hang it inside the coop as well. Right now it is 17 degrees outside, so everything freezes.

 

[thecochincoop]

I have the nipple waterers in the house and I love them, so much easier than filling up waterers and so much cleaner. Can't use them outside in the winter because of freezing

 

[matimeo]

For those concerned about freezing, a simple bucket deicer solves that problem.