Nipple Water Question..

[Hawgon]

I have a rain water collection barrel and pvc system with 4 nipples and my hens love it. I use ACV in the water and have the system painted black and in shade and have had no algae problems. That being said, dont kid yourself, I dont care what type of waterer you use, after a rain they will run to the nearest, nastiest puddle and drink like they have been in the desert for a week! I dont even want to know what my ancestors ate and how. I think we all try to find a balance between what is easiest for us and best for our birds in our own situations. Is building stuff for your chickens addictive or is it just me?! This forum is my vice in life now!

 

[Our Roost]

Now see! I found just the opposite. I have 24 four month old birds and 2 pekin ducks. I only fill the 5 gallon bucket once every 2 to 3 days tops. I have a 3 inch hole and screen on the top cover for airation and rain water which is a bonus. I add about 3 tblsps applecider vinegar and have not had a problem with algae buildup like you say. All I do is rinse it out on occaision. I had elevated water feeders and they were always full of poop no matter how high I elevated them. Chickens jump at any height! Just a matter of preference I guess.

 

[tadpole98]

Now see! I found just the opposite. I have 24 four month old birds and 2 pekin ducks. I only fill the 5 gallon bucket once every 2 to 3 days tops. I have a 3 inch hole and screen on the top cover for airation and rain water which is a bonus. I add about 3 tblsps applecider vinegar and have not had a problem with algae buildup like you say. All I do is rinse it out on occaision. I had elevated water feeders and they were always full of poop no matter how high I elevated them. Chickens jump at any height! Just a matter of preference I guess.

ahh i see

I have a rain water collection barrel and pvc system with 4 nipples and my hens love it. I use ACV in the water and have the system painted black and in shade and have had no algae problems. That being said, dont kid yourself, I dont care what type of waterer you use, after a rain they will run to the nearest, nastiest puddle and drink like they have been in the desert for a week! I dont even want to know what my ancestors ate and how. I think we all try to find a balance between what is easiest for us and best for our birds in our own situations. Is building stuff for your chickens addictive or is it just me?! This forum is my vice in life now!

building for chickens is addictive!!

 

[Our Roost]

As you say, some of this stuff seems very addictive! At first it was a simple coop design that turned out to be the Tahj Mahal and then the feed and water ideas started flowing faster than I could ask questions about, get responses and try to construct something better than anyone else! Currently adding a porch area to the front of my coop. A chicken wired "Florida room as I call it" This is to protect the birds from the pesky red tailed hawks, and other critters ( All this because we lost a bird to a hawk, spotted a bobcat, seen a coyote, and a red fox in the area). I will extend my pvc outdoors, add more nipples and a spigot for filling outside water containers. I swear that I must be going chicken crazy at times! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Hawgon]

See, I told you, Addictive!!!!!

 

[DollyM]

My chickens (8 of them) had been in the coop and using a regular waterer for several weeks when we installed an automatic waterer with nipples....my husband showed them once by putting the beak to the nipple and after one day they were all using it. The second day I removed the old waterer. I love it because the water stays clean and we fill it once a week. Our coop is in a shady area and even on the hottest days they are drinking from the nipples. I don't think we can use it when the weather gets really cold because I think the water in the pipe will freeze...I'll take it down before that so it doesn't crack, and we'll have to come up with another solution.

 

[Our Roost]

Hmmm! Dont know what size your waterer is. Tractor supply offers a circular water heater at a reasonable price. I will install this in my rain barrel this winter. They use something similar in horse traugfhs also. That cant be how you spell trough is it?! Hope that may help.

 

[3 NH reds]

I think any watrring system that is easy to drink from would be a hit but my baby turkey prefer the nipple on a 2 liter soda bottle.They drink from a standard waterer but come running when they see the nipple 2 liter set up. Never even showed them how to use it just put it in.
Interesting side note. I saw nipple waterers in a Purdue Chicken add. Tells me there is something good going on there.

 

[ChickenJerk]

I saw nipple waterers in a Purdue Chicken add. Tells me there is something good going on there.

Practically all of the industrial chickens in the world (except maybe the bottom 25% of the third world) drink from nipple drinkers. This is not something new or unproven.

 

[Dutch552]

Where did you get your large black plastic water container? I have beenlooking for something like that but have been unable to source one. Thanks.

See, I told you, Addictive!!!!!