New 14 week old pullets won't drink

[chrisebb]

Hi,

I purchased 5 x 14 week old pullets 2 days ago from the supplier where they were raised, I believe undercover. We hav fed and watered them, leaving the feed and water outside the cover of the coop. We noticed they weren't eating or drinking so moved the food and water closer to the cover, they are now eating happily

The problem is, we have their water in a rubber tub and they still won't drink out of it, so we put the water in a small bowl, they won't drink out of this either. As we were filling the water up some water dripped from the hose and went in the soil in the cage out of the cover of the coop, all the chickens immediately ran to it and started drinking from the ground after 2 days of not touching their water supply. Obviously we can't constantly run the hose one the ground and i don't think they will get a sufficient amount of water out of small puddles on the ground.

Does anyone have advice on what to do? Are we doing something wrong? Has anyone had the same experience.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be they were watered with nipples instead of drinking from a pan or bowl. You may have to individually dip beaks so they know that water is in those bowls. Once one gets it the others should follow suit.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Were they by any chance raised with only having chicken nipples to drink from?
It should be easy to see if they look for drips and try to drink from a dripping source.

Try introducing them to the bowl by physically dipping the beak into it till the bird get the idea.

 

[chrisebb]

Could be they were watered with nipples instead of drinking from a pan or bowl. You may have to individually dip beaks so they know that water is in those bowls. Once one gets it the others should follow suit.

Thanks all, we introduced much smaller bowls, like mug sized bowls and they are now drinking and are much happier. Even venturing out from hiding underneath the roosting boxes. We didn't have to try dipping their beaks in.

 

[Angeline1978]

Try dipping water in the bowl of water?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks all, we introduced much smaller bowls, like mug sized bowls and they are now drinking and are much happier. Even venturing out from hiding underneath the roosting boxes. We didn't have to try dipping their beaks in.

They have no clue what has happened to them. Glad to hear they are slowly adjusting, and you didn't need to stress them out chasing them down.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Hi,

I purchased 5 x 14 week old pullets 2 days ago from the supplier where they were raised, I believe undercover. We hav fed and watered them, leaving the feed and water outside the cover of the coop. We noticed they weren't eating or drinking so moved the food and water closer to the cover, they are now eating happily

The problem is, we have their water in a rubber tub and they still won't drink out of it, so we put the water in a small bowl, they won't drink out of this either. As we were filling the water up some water dripped from the hose and went in the soil in the cage out of the cover of the coop, all the chickens immediately ran to it and started drinking from the ground after 2 days of not touching their water supply. Obviously we can't constantly run the hose one the ground and i don't think they will get a sufficient amount of water out of small puddles on the ground.

Does anyone have advice on what to do? Are we doing something wrong? Has anyone had the same experience.