Meyers, tracking and blizzard, oh my!

[Kiki]

punch a small air hole in the bottom of the bottle (to prevent a vacuum from forming when in use)

 

[Kiki]

I use wire....I wrap it around the bottle a few times and twist the wire tight....and use the "ends" of the wire to "hang" it.

 

[Merrymouse]

punch a small air hole in the bottom of the bottle (to prevent a vacuum from forming when in use)

I use wire....I wrap it around the bottle a few times and twist the wire tight....and use the "ends" of the wire to "hang" it.

Thank you. It worked when I put a hole in the bottle. Now I need to find wire. I have it attached but I want an easier method.
So a couple more questions...
They are really going at it so I have a plate wrapped in papertowels beneath it and its wet. Is this dangerous and will it make my chicks get sick? I know wetness in a brooder is bad news.

Do you think one bottle is enough for four chicks? They are all gathered around it pecking it. Of course the Marans and the BR haven't really gotten the hang of it yet.
Maybe I should start a thread and ask these questions???

Thanks

 

[aart]

Quote: I recommend horizontal nipples instead of verticals.
Much less of a dripping mess, much better when time to heat for winter...you can set the container down.
Tho may be a bit harder to train to use.
Any nipple can be hard for them to get used to after and open waterer, takes time and patience.

Here's one good thread about HN's vs VN's:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-vs-horizontal-spring-loaded-watering-nipples

And more:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ne...&order=descending&Search=SEARCH&Search=SEARCH

 

[debid]

1 nipple is plenty for 4. They like to share.

 

[Merrymouse]

I recommend horizontal nipples instead of verticals.
Much less of a dripping mess, much better when time to heat for winter...you can set the container down.
Tho may be a bit harder to train to use.
Any nipple can be hard for them to get used to after and open waterer, takes time and patience.

Here's one good thread about HN's vs VN's:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-vs-horizontal-spring-loaded-watering-nipples

And more:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ne...&order=descending&Search=SEARCH&Search=SEARCH

I have a big bucket with horizontal nipples for when the hopefully "girls" go outside but its way too big for the brooder. Agree, they splash and drip a lot with the chicks now very enthusiastically using them. They are now all 4 banging away at them. I have a plate underneath covered with paper towels that I change out about 4 or 5 times a day as I know the danger of a damp environment. If anyone has a better way Im open to it.

1 nipple is plenty for 4. They like to share.

Its so funny, they all try to drink at once. They do almost everything as a flock.

 

[debid]

I haven't 6 using 1. And yes, they are all suddenly thirsty the moment one touches the waterer. It's HILARIOUS. They are definitely flock birds.

FWIW, I have only had a leaky vertical nipple once (that sounds like a medical condition...) But, it was the water bottle I had outside for years and through numerous freezes. They don't normally leak and the bedding is completely dry under the adult's bucket. Improper installation is so common, though, because most don't come with adequate instructions. They cannot be mounted at an angle, for instance, or gravity will hold them open instead of closed. The threaded kind is not meant for thin-walled containers like buckets but are often the only kind your local store has. They'll leak around the threads but the water drips from the lowest point so people think the nipple leaks. The fit is supposed to be very tight but the drill bit size is uncommon so people use what they have as a "close enough" and then it leaks from the hole being too big. Etc.

 

[aart]

Quote: You can put the HN's in almost any container.

There's a quart size with DIY holder here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/2-nipple-quart-water-bottle-holder


32oz salsa jar, HN hooks on crate wire another wire holds it in place.

Drill smaller hole and only thread in far enough to seal.


That's a half pint juice bottle with HN, sitting in a larger bottle that's screwed to the nest.
Jar lid under half pint adjusts height, easy swap out for freezing temp broody and chicks.
I use this one in the brooder inside too.


Oh and here's my spiel on installtion and hole size:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ing-loaded-watering-nipples/210#post_14202676

 

[Wavechickens]

Our little babies are thriving so well! We have grown so much they get healthy snacks every few days now at almost four weeks old. Apple and scrambled eggs this morning.
They got moved up into their next sized brooder pen (a puppy playpen that we set up in the kitchen)

 

[Wavechickens]

It's even looking like we got all females that we ordered, with the exception of the one Roo we ordered on purpose