Nipple water feeder

[Brooksy21]

I have a 3.5 gallon nipple water feeder that my chickens are using. Before I got it I was changing the water twice to 5 times a day, because they would poop in it, get bedding in it and then tip it over . Just gross. Now nothing gets in it. But I’m not sure how often I should be changing the water now? I would assume considerably less but I don’t want to assume wrong.

 

[.:Rusalka:.]

I have the same but with horizontal nipples. My chickens drink all in 3 days, so I'm only filling it up every 2-3 days. If it's on a sunny place you might want to change it more often, mine is under trees and in the shade all day.

 

[Pentatonchix]

I refill every 1-2 weeks, just make sure to check every couple of days and you will be fine.

ETA: I only have 5 hens, so if you have more, it may be more often

 

[Brooksy21]

I refill every 1-2 weeks, just make sure to check every couple of days and you will be fine.

ETA: I only have 5 hens, so if you have more, it may be more often

I only have 6 and that was what I was thinking too. Maybe once a week, just so it’s fresh. My chickens don’t go through much water as of yet, they’re still pretty young at 10 weeks.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I found that peeps like 4 weeks old I prefer Horizontal nipples they leak less

 

[Brooksy21]

I found that peeps like 4 weeks old I prefer Horizontal nipples they leak less

I have those as well. I tried them first, but the chicks seemed to have a really hard time getting the water to come out. I think I tried them at about 2-4wks a couple different times, maybe they were too young. I’ll make some more buckets and try again. I haven’t noticed the vertical one leaking but still even if it leaks a little it’s much less of a mess than poopy whole containers of water tipping over.

 

[.:Rusalka:.]

I have those as well. I tried them first, but the chicks seemed to have a really hard time getting the water to come out. I think I tried them at about 2-4wks a couple different times, maybe they were too young. I’ll make some more buckets and try again. I haven’t noticed the vertical one leaking but still even if it leaks a little it’s much less of a mess than poopy whole containers of water tipping over.

Mine use the horizontal since 1week old, they did need a day to get used to it, but they figured out. I shown it pulling the metal piece to the side, and while reaching for the water deeper next to the metal piece, they moved it and it worked. The first day I offered another waterer, but their curiosity made them try the new instead.

 

[poultryprofessor]

You can just fill this as needed and watch for algae growth if it is in a sunny spot. Otherwise, should be fine. I have had trouble with this waterer leaking when birds bumped into it or tried to jump on top of it. My birds think everything is a jungle gym though, so you may or may not deal with that.