nipple waterer for chickens?

[JNC]

She is about 3mlnths old. Is it to late to train her how to use one? Do chickens perfer nipple waterers or just drinking from a bowl?

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens can be trained to use nipple waterers at any age where they are strong enough to trigger the nipples.

I like horizontal nipple waterers because they are more resistant to freezing and less likely to leak.

This is my newest one, made from a 3-gallon frosting bucket from the bakery at the grocery store where I work (I can't lift 5 gallons of water), and Rent-A-Coop nipples. (Get the 11/32 drill bit and make your life easier and be sure to drill a small hole just under the rim of the bucket to break the vacuum. ).

When I introduced the first one to my first hens I tapped the nipple with my finger to release a little water. The, periodically for the next few days I'd wedge a mealworm or a sunflower seed into the nipple so that when the chickens took the treats they'd discover that it was wet there.

Then -- and I must emphasize that I did this CAUTIOUSLY because it was summer -- I started taking the open waterer out at night and not putting it back until later and later in the morning. Once I saw one chicken using it I could feel confident that the others would quickly imitate her and, after another few days I took the open waterer out permanently.

When I raised chicks I put a mini-version into the brooder from the beginning, knowing that they wouldn't be strong enough to use it for several weeks. Every day, when tending them, I tapped the nipples then, when I thought they might be big enough, I started putting a bit of their wet mash on the nipples.

Finally, when I was integrating them into the flock, I made sure that they could see the adults using their waterer. By 6-7 weeks I was able to take the open waterer out.

 

[JNC]

Okay thank you! One of the main reasons I wanna switch is because I don’t want her water bowl to freeze over the Winter every 30 minutes!

 

[3KillerBs]

I don't get much in the way of winter, but I'm considering this: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/heated-poultry-waterer?cat_id=227

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I did the rent a coop nipples also off Amazon.
I bought a Lowe’s 5gallon bucket with lid and have it on a block in the shade it’s never ran empty.
I add blocks of ice to it daily to help keep the water cool and my chickens picked up on it really fast they were around 3months.
I can run the hose over to it if I needed to fill it but mostly it’s always full from the ice blocks and I have to dump some out.
I love this system much better cause it’s cleaner, stays filled and stays cool.

 

[K0k0shka]

I trained my chicks from last year on horizontal nipples and they did okay for a few months. Then summer hit and I got worried that they weren't getting enough water. They never liked the nipples, they seemed to be frustrated by how little water comes out. One day on a very hot day, my kids were playing near the chickens and had some sand toys and a small bucket of water. OMG the chickens flocked to it like they'd never seen water before!!! They started dunking their whole heads in, shaking their heads, then doing it again, and guzzling the water. Seemed like they were trying to both drink and cool off at the same time. That was when I gave up and brought in an open bowl waterer. I kept the nipple waterer, too, but they never ever used it again. I'm sure they would've survived just fine on just nipples, but the open waterer made them SO happy that I decided to let them have this small pleasure in life. The nipple waterer was heated, too, and I'm sure it would've been convenient in the winter, but I got a heated dog bowl from Amazon and it worked out just fine. Never once froze, and we had a brutal winter last year. I never had any issues with the chickens' wattles freezing either. I put the bowl on a cinder block so they didn't step in the water either. Best decision ever. It's very easy to clean and refill. They don't have water inside the coop so spillage doesn't matter, and I truly don't have any pressing need for nipples, so I won't be using them anymore.

 

[3KillerBs]

I trained my chicks from last year on horizontal nipples and they did okay for a few months. Then summer hit and I got worried that they weren't getting enough water. They never liked the nipples, they seemed to be frustrated by how little water comes out. One day on a very hot day, my kids were playing near the chickens and had some sand toys and a small bucket of water. OMG the chickens flocked to it like they'd never seen water before!!! They started dunking their whole heads in, shaking their heads, then doing it again, and guzzling the water. Seemed like they were trying to both drink and cool off at the same time. That was when I gave up and brought in an open bowl waterer. I kept the nipple waterer, too, but they never ever used it again. I'm sure they would've survived just fine on just nipples, but the open waterer made them SO happy that I decided to let them have this small pleasure in life. The nipple waterer was heated, too, and I'm sure it would've been convenient in the winter, but I got a heated dog bowl from Amazon and it worked out just fine. Never once froze, and we had a brutal winter last year. I never had any issues with the chickens' wattles freezing either. I put the bowl on a cinder block so they didn't step in the water either. Best decision ever. It's very easy to clean and refill. They don't have water inside the coop so spillage doesn't matter, and I truly don't have any pressing need for nipples, so I won't be using them anymore.

Did your nipple waterer have that vacuum-breaking hole below the rim? They can't get water out from a sealed container against the vacuum.

Mine will, of course, prefer to drink from the filthy pockets of rain that collects in the hollows of the upside down lawn chairs -- but they did that with open waterers too.

 

[K0k0shka]

It was

Did your nipple waterer have that vacuum-breaking hole below the rim? They can't get water out from a sealed container against the vacuum.

Mine will, of course, prefer to drink from the filthy pockets of rain that collects in the hollows of the upside down lawn chairs -- but they did that with open waterers too.

It was this one - a proper waterer I bought that had everything installed the way it should be. It let the water out just fine. In fact, it even leaked a little, which was annoying. So it wasn't a vacuum issue. It's just an awkward thing to drink from, I guess, and I don't feel strongly enough about it to keep pushing it, so I gave in and let them have an open waterer.

 

[3KillerBs]

It was

It was this one - a proper waterer I bought that had everything installed the way it should be. It let the water out just fine. In fact, it even leaked a little, which was annoying. So it wasn't a vacuum issue. It's just an awkward thing to drink from, I guess, and I don't feel strongly enough about it to keep pushing it, so I gave in and let them have an open waterer.
View attachment 2820462

Just checking. It's a common problem.

I HATE having to clean open waterers over and over and over and over and over and over.

 

[K0k0shka]

Just checking. It's a common problem.

I HATE having to clean open waterers over and over and over and over and over and over.

I only clean mine maybe once a month. It’s up high and in a corner of the run where they don’t hang out much, so it doesn’t get crap kicked into it. I’ll occasionally dump the water out, swish some clean water around to rinse it, and refill from a small bucket I carry into the run, and that’s it. Every month or two I’ll scrub it with an old baby bottle brush. It makes me happy to watch them use it, because they love it And it fits with my woodland theme The nipple waterer was uuuuuugly.