Nipple Feeder Transition For 6 week old chicks

[kjorgey]

My 6 week old chicks made the transition to their coop 2 days ago. I purchased a 3 gallon with 4 nipple feeder from Premier 1, because it can safely be converted to a heated waterer in winter. I was concerned some of the chicks weren't getting the idea and enough water, so I put their old, smaller trough style waterer from the brooder in today in addition to the nipple waterer. Not sure that was a good idea because now they only take from their old waterer. My question is, I would imagine they will all eventually get the hang of the nipple feeder, right? Perhaps it was getting used to the coordination of extracting water from a hanging device. Any suggestions before the temps start rising?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Did you teach them to use the nipples or see them using them? I'd personally feel safer making sure they all can use them before permanently taking away the old waterer, however since they'll favor the old waterer, only give them sporadic access to it.

Then again if they lived for 2 days without the old waterer, that tells me they likely figured out how to use it well enough to get by.

 

[wamtazlady]

I have had several batches of chicks and chickens change over to using nipples. There is one main thing you have to do. Remove all other water sources. I have never had a chicken too dumb to learn to use the nipples. Have never had problems with them not drinking enough. Quite honestly, I worried the first time I used nipples with my chickens. After that I have never worried. I put the waterer in with them and forget it. Never had an issue whether the birds are chicks or adult chickens. When the neighbors on each side of me had free ranging flocks, their chickens learned to use the nipples rather than go home to get a drink.