Nipple Waterer Help

[marktoo]

I've used nipples from day one, have never had a problem but it's only been 3 1/2 months. I was planning on installing some cups as well, to see what the chickens preferred but never got around to it. I presently have a five gallon water cooler as a supply, cooling it with frozen bottles of water, water level is checked once or twice a day. I use acv and currently wash the cooler, flush the lines & change the water once a week. Should I be changing the water more often?

 

[LoneOak]

I've used nipples from day one, have never had a problem but it's only been 3 1/2 months. I was planning on installing some cups as well, to see what the chickens preferred but never got around to it. I presently have a five gallon water cooler as a supply, cooling it with frozen bottles of water, water level is checked once or twice a day. I use acv and currently wash the cooler, flush the lines & change the water once a week. Should I be changing the water more often?

Why are you putting frozen bottles of water in your bucket? I don't think you would have a problem being too hot unless the temp was close to 100 or above. I live in Georgia and it gets hot here, I have never worried about cooling the water, never heard about it till I joined this forum. Seems like a total waste of time to me.

If you clean your bucket once a week you are more than adequate. If its closed with a lid you could probably go a month and just add water as needed.

 

[1cityslicker]

My hens from day one have been using the nipple types. Even new chicks get it down right away. I just keep all other sources of water away from them, minus the dog water which they use sometimes. To the OP, can they get to the nipples on the bottom of the bucket with ease?

 

[wowmanacat]

I tried some nipples on some soda bottles and it never took off around here. I about lost my chickens for they were not getting enough water. I will stick with oen type systems like waters and might try the cups at some point.

 

[marktoo]

Why are you putting frozen bottles of water in your bucket? I don't think you would have a problem being too hot unless the temp was close to 100 or above. I live in Georgia and it gets hot here, I have never worried about cooling the water, never heard about it till I joined this forum. Seems like a total waste of time to me.

If you clean your bucket once a week you are more than adequate. If its closed with a lid you could probably go a month and just add water as needed.

Being a first time chicken owner I tend to try to do what is recommended by more experienced people. I had read that chickens don''t like to drink warm water. How warm is too warm I don't know but i don't want to be killing these things. However it is a lot easier to keep the water cold than to make it that way once it's warm. I'm sure I will relax on this as time goes on. After a long run of unseasonably cool weather central California is now going to swing the other way, upper 90s today, 100 tomorrow, 103 - 107 for several days thereafter.

Thanks for your input on the water change frequency.

 

[cajun1]

I have tried adding peanut butter to the nipples and they eat the peanut butter and drink for a few minutes and then stop. In the last week we have only seen one chicken drink without peanut butter and the water level is hardly going down. I have also pushed on the nipples to get the chickens to drink from them, but then they stop after a few minutes. Once a day I have been giving them a bucket of water to make sure everyone is getting something to drink. I'm worried with the warmer weather that I might have some sick or dead chickens if they get dehydrated.

I tried your peanut butter trick and it has worked like a charm. The girls headed right for the nipples.

 

[Arielle]

I've used nipples from day one, have never had a problem but it's only been 3 1/2 months. I was planning on installing some cups as well, to see what the chickens preferred but never got around to it. I presently have a five gallon water cooler as a supply, cooling it with frozen bottles of water, water level is checked once or twice a day. I use acv and currently wash the cooler, flush the lines & change the water once a week. Should I be changing the water more often?

ACV helps to keep your water fresh. IF once a week is working for you, don't change. YOu might even go 2 weeks. I used ACV in my waterers and there is NO slime or off odor. Of course this is refilled every day and doesn't need weekly or daily cleaning with this method.

 

[tigerlillyfish]

How much ACV do you put in the water?

 

[marktoo]

How much ACV do you put in the water?

From what I understand TBS - TBS & a half per gallon. Apparently not too critical, many people don't bother measuring.

 

[marktoo]

ACV helps to keep your water fresh. IF once a week is working for you, don't change. YOu might even go 2 weeks. I used ACV in my waterers and there is NO slime or off odor. Of course this is refilled every day and doesn't need weekly or daily cleaning with this method.

Thanks!