New Waterer not used by chickens

[Lakaake]

I purchased a 2 gal double wall drinker to set on a heated base. My chickens have used the same style of drinker along with the cup style with no issue. When all other water sources are removed from the run they still refuse to drink from the new 2 gal drinker on the heated base. I have adjusted the height, checked that they aren't being shocked due to electrical short. Same location as the old drinker. Why would they refuse to drink from the new drinker? They are completely aware of the fact that it contains water. Have dipped beaks, lightly splashed to attract attention and tried to lure them with treats. I'm confused...

 

[nuthatched]

It's a scary new thing, maybe set the old waterer next to it until they get used to it.

 

[Lakaake]

It's a scary new thing, maybe set the old waterer next to it until they get used to it.

I'm leaving it in the run for now. I still make sure the old one isn't frozen for them. Hoping they will just have a revelation or something and start using it. I even washed and thoroughly rinsed it before use, just in case.

 

[tigger19687]

Maybe there is an off gas smell once it was heated.
I suggest you take it out, wash it and rinse extra extra then put it back out and see what happens.
Maybe float a couple pieces of CORN in it
remove the other waterers

 

[Lakaake]

Did you WASH it.
Maybe there is an off gas smell once it was heated.
I suggest you take it out, wash it and rinse extra extra then put it back out and see what happens.
Maybe float a couple pieces of CORN in it

Yes, it has been washed/rinsed thoroughly. Tried floating some watermelon in it, they seem to love watermelon. They still act like its the can of death. Completely frustrated with it. $90 spent for the waterer and heater base so that I don't have to worry about frozen water. They aren't afraid of it. One or more of them actually try to sit on top of it.

 

[tigger19687]

can of death bwhahahaha

Try the floating seeds... corn sometimes floats.
Ohhh.... try just having just a 1/2 inch of water layer and drop some corn/seed bits in it while they are watching.
I try to hang out with the hens when I introduce them to something... like when I wrapped the run in the Dark thick tarp and hung a couple Vanilla Tree scent things from the inside top. Ohhhh scary, until I went in and sat down like before with some treats. Toss some treats out the door to get them to see me and then drizzle the treats from one hand to the other till they say " Oh LOOK TREATS!" lol

I used the heated dog bowl elevated in the same spot as the old waterer- with a gallon milk jug inside it so they didn't get IN it. Worked fine

 

[Lakaake]

can of death bwhahahaha

Try the floating seeds... corn sometimes floats.
Ohhh.... try just having just a 1/2 inch of water layer and drop some corn/seed bits in it while they are watching.
I try to hang out with the hens when I introduce them to something... like when I wrapped the run in the Dark thick tarp and hung a couple Vanilla Tree scent things from the inside top. Ohhhh scary, until I went in and sat down like before with some treats. Toss some treats out the door to get them to see me and then drizzle the treats from one hand to the other till they say " Oh LOOK TREATS!" lol

I used the heated dog bowl elevated in the same spot as the old waterer- with a gallon milk jug inside it so they didn't get IN it. Worked fine

Thanks! They are hilarious when discovering new things. 4 of them stood and stared at wind chimes for what seemed like an hour

 

[tigger19687]

Thanks! They are hilarious when discovering new things. 4 of them stood and stared at wind chimes for what seemed like an hour

OMG I was going to put in an older set of chimes in the run and see if they pecked at it like the kid toy. Maybe I should just to watch them hhahaa

 

[Lakaake]

I hung them up high so they wouldn't get crap all over them. (Seems to be what they're best at) They all just stood frozen in their space watching. The hanging xylophone gets alot of use in our run though.

 

[IndigoAngel]

I hung them up high so they wouldn't get crap all over them. (Seems to be what they're best at) They all just stood frozen in their space watching. The hanging xylophone gets alot of use in our run though.

How did you get them to use the xylophone?! I have had one in the run for months and I have sat like a loony fool "pecking" it myself, trying to get them to play with it and they haven't given it even one little peck.