nipple water

[Dingleberry]

5 of my girls are over 1 year and 4 are 5 months. I have seen 3 of the older girls use it but the others hold out sso I put water in their old dish for them. ssiiiiiggghhh

 

[MakNugget]

If you give them an option, they may opt for the dish instead of the nipple. It didn't take long (but it seemed like forever) until one of my girls was brave enough to try it. I stepped away and figured the others would follow suit, and they did eventually later that day.

 

[rarebreedeggs4u]

Mine learned VERY quickly. I don't provide other water except for babies that are learning to use it.

 

[the1honeycomb]

I just got the chicken nipples in the mail and am excited to start using them... Thanks for the picture of your watering system I am goingto try to makie one for my babies. how long should I wait to put the regular waterer in for them I don't want them to get dehydrated.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
HI the1honeycomb, right after I installed the chicken nipples I sat outside my coop with a skinny stick and tapped at the nipple while getting the birds' attention. Water would drip out and they'd go for it (I first deprived them of water for 2 hours). They learned within an hour or so with just a few training "sessions". My problem is that they prefer to use the standard vacuum waterers. I kept my regular waterers around the yard and they'd go out of their way to drink from them rather than the nipples. We have several months on end where the temps are 100-115 and I felt I couldn't remove the other waterers. I will when it cools off this winter though. So, I would remove the other waterers and watch to make sure they are getting enough water. I'd also do a couple training sessions a day for the next couple days just to make sure they don't forget overnight. Good luck and let us know how they do. BTW, my re-purposed cooler reservoir was easy to make. Go to your local hardware store and find the right fittings to make everything water-tight and tube of silicone too to seal it. I used a standard float valve (about $5) which keeps the reservoir full. Of course you don't have to plumb it to your waterline, I just like the convenience. You can also use a bucket. Good luck.

 

[TC_BokBok]

Don't give up! I've had enormous success using 2 nipple water system buckets for my urban flock of 5 hens. I have a 2 gallon bucket outside in the run and another 2 gallon bucking inside the coop house. I was also expecting a long "training day" session for my girls since they didn't get introduced to this system until they were a little over 2 months old.

But, after showing them how it worked, removing the old nasty water dispensers, and turning my back my first girl was pecking away in about 15 minutes and the others soon followed. I'm completely sold on this system myself. It makes a world of difference.

 

[Peppermint]

It took my girls literally 15 seconds. The curious roo came up right away and pecked at the red part on the nipple and started throwing his head back to swallow. His ladies gathered around and followed his lead... I do notice that IF I have a bowl of water out, they will choose that method of hydration. Otherwise, they know where the nipples are and use them when they need them. Don't give up!!!

 

[gobblecluck]

Quote:
HI the1honeycomb, right after I installed the chicken nipples I sat outside my coop with a skinny stick and tapped at the nipple while getting the birds' attention. Water would drip out and they'd go for it (I first deprived them of water for 2 hours). They learned within an hour or so with just a few training "sessions". My problem is that they prefer to use the standard vacuum waterers. I kept my regular waterers around the yard and they'd go out of their way to drink from them rather than the nipples. We have several months on end where the temps are 100-115 and I felt I couldn't remove the other waterers. I will when it cools off this winter though. So, I would remove the other waterers and watch to make sure they are getting enough water. I'd also do a couple training sessions a day for the next couple days just to make sure they don't forget overnight. Good luck and let us know how they do. BTW, my re-purposed cooler reservoir was easy to make. Go to your local hardware store and find the right fittings to make everything water-tight and tube of silicone too to seal it. I used a standard float valve (about $5) which keeps the reservoir full. Of course you don't have to plumb it to your waterline, I just like the convenience. You can also use a bucket. Good luck.

this is not a personal attack but chickens are not going to forget where water comes from over night. and also you dont have to train chickens how to use the nipples. the nipples are red for the same reason the bottom of plastic waterers and feeders are. the chickens are attracted to the color red and will peck at it and in turn water comes out. as far as dehydration is concerned my chickens, turkeys, and guineas, probably 50 birds in all have been surviving on the nipples for about a month and no one has been dehydrated yet. as a bonus the birds dont have to drink turd water and my system makes it easier on me because instead of filling and carrying five five gallon waterers across the yard everyday i fill the 55 gallon drum with a garden hose one every week and a half or so.

 

[arch_cpj]

make sure it is at or a titch above their eye level they will oeck at the shining thing and wow there water there also make sure you bleed air out my system has PVC pipe i have to occassionally bleed if I clean it out... They will begin to use it all it takes one the others will follow...

 

[Luke13:34]

Can I just start my babies on a rabbit waterer from the get go so that the nipple sytem is all they ever know?