Nipple + Cup Combo?

[Chicknews]

I have the Royal Rooster waterer, which is basically a cylinder pipe with a cup on each side. It works great and stays clean. However the cups of course freeze in the hard New England temps.

I see a lot of threads about people choosing between a horizontal nipple and a cup but see nothing about using both at the same time. Would it defy some laws of physics if I added a horizontal nipple on each side above the cup so that if the cups are frozen the hens can still access water? Has anyone done this and found that having both simply did not work or somehow messed up the water flow?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Shouldn't mess with water flow, really would just need to remember to keep water level above the nipples, but I guess my question would be, why bother with cups at all?

 

[Chicknews]

Shouldn't mess with water flow, really would just need to remember to keep water level above the nipples, but I guess my question would be, why bother with cups at all?

The cups by design are vertical, if I remove them I would probably just need to plug the holes with some caulk. Figured if I have both options they could just pick whatever suits their fancy.

 

[Minky]

my flock refuses to use nipples, and will all wait until I open the coop and run to the less-than fresh tub I keep under the water spout. They stand there and drink like they've been crossing the dessert. They have a perfectly good nipple waterer in their coop. I dont get it.
They love it best when I spill their water on the dirt by accident. LOL

 

[rosemarythyme]

The cups by design are vertical, if I remove them I would probably just need to plug the holes with some caulk. Figured if I have both options they could just pick whatever suits their fancy.

Makes sense. Main thing then would be to make sure they know how to use both the cups and nipples reliably, because it won't do them any good to have horizontal nipples they won't/don't know how to use.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Your water will still freeze unless you heat the waterer. Why would nips stop it from freezing?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your water will still freeze unless you heat the waterer. Why would nips stop it from freezing?

I assumed (I hope) the idea was to put in a heater, so that the horizontal nipples would still be usable when freezing.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Just making sure OP didn't read somewhere "HNs don't freeze!" and took it literally. With a heater should work fine!