I can't tell where you are, but here, where I live, I don't think I would use nipple waterers because our water is so hard. The nipples would clog with calcium deposits. I have heard wonderful things, but if you are in an area where this is a problem, you just need to have a waterer they can't poop in. Our chickens always have clean water. here is what we use:
I had the same problem with my waterer, so I put it inside a 5 gallon bucket with holes cut out. It was initially going to be a temporary solution, but it's worked so well that I'm still using it a year later. Here's the link to my thread .
We had the same problem and they would perch on it. Then I remembered I had one of those large plastic dog hood cones when our dog had surgery on his ear. So I strung twine around the part that attaches to the dogs collar and hung it over the waterer. I also put duct tape on the outside at the seam to hold it together. No more messy water. I have it almost covering 3/4 of the waterer. We have a 3 gallon and 5 gallon waterer and it works on both. I have seen these cones at PETCO.
Quote:
I made a similar item out of an old cardboard box...it was free!! And yes, chickens are messy...but you should try ducks if you "want" messy!!! lol
What I did was put the waterer up on a brick and then cover the top of the lid with a large coffee can or something tall...or domed to stop them from roosting or jumping on top of it. The brick works great...you want the waterer about shoulder height for them.