Need advice about nipple watering system

[UrbanMamaHen]

I place the water container with the bottom of the nipple at a height where they can comfortably reach - about their current height (measured from the ground to top of head when standing erect) plus another two to three inches. I adjusted the height a number of times and this appears to be be the optimal.

 

[UrbanMamaHen]

I place the water container with the bottom of the nipple at a height where they can comfortably reach - about their current height (measured from the ground to top of head when standing erect) plus another two to three inches. I adjusted the height a number of times and this appears to be be the optimal.

Sodamancer,
Since your chicks are younger than mine and are of mixed ages, I would recommend using the height of the smallest chick (described above) plus one inch.
I only use one water container for the coop/run combo. I know most members recommend having a back up source but since I check on them twice a day, I feel it's safe to have just the one. If I were to leave them for days at a time, I would put in an extra one. I don't think it matters where you put it. As long as the chicks can see it, they will go to it (after they have been trained to drink from it.) Mine took less than 30 sec to figure it out.

 

[breakout]

Sodamancer,
Since your chicks are younger than mine and are of mixed ages, I would recommend using the height of the smallest chick (described above) plus one inch.
I only use one water container for the coop/run combo. I know most members recommend having a back up source but since I check on them twice a day, I feel it's safe to have just the one. If I were to leave them for days at a time, I would put in an extra one. I don't think it matters where you put it. As long as the chicks can see it, they will go to it (after they have been trained to drink from it.) Mine took less than 30 sec to figure it out.

From what I read the optimal height is where they have to reach up so that the water goes straight down their throats. So I would say the opposite of the recent post -- put the nipples above the tallest bird. Then for the shorter ones put some pavers or bricks so they can reach -- then those can be taken away if no longer needed in the future as the chickens grow. I put the nipples 19" high based on our leghorns and put some pavers for the young ISAs. I've seen both types drinking from both heights.