Nipple Waterer Training?

[MelissaTXRn]

I installed the horizontal nipples today. My chicks were using it within an hour. I just took each one and put its beak to it to show them that water would come out. It took 2-3 times. Easy peasy!!!

 

[redmoo]

Gosh, I didn't know to train them. We have a 5 gallon bucket with 3 nipples and that's all they've had since we got them 3 weeks ago. They figured it out I guess.

 

[pegm]

Put my 5 gal container with the 2 nipples attached in early this afternoon. Took my hens quite awhile to figure it out, the aracauna was the first to get the idea. I finally went out and held my RIR's up to it and they drank. It may take a time or two but think they will get the hang of it. I hope so, it was 93 today and had taken their regular waterer out. They both laid today, hope they will do so tomorrow, they were getting pretty thirsty.

Also added a barred rock last night after dark, well that didn't go as advertised. They were picking on her so badly this am I stuck her under the coop area locked away from them, they are in the run. Late this evening I will let them mingle and go to roost together (I hope) and maybe tomorrow it will go smoother. I was getting worried about my neighbors complaining about the noise.

Looking forward to not having to continuously clean and change waterer. Love the idea of constantly clean water. Gonna dig out a 2 liter bottle and freeze it overnight and put it in the water container.

 

[AliNaz]

How long could it take for them to learn? And how long can they survive with just minimal water consumption. I just switched systems and I don't think they are getting it. I have seen 3 out of the 8 drink a bit while I pushed the nipple and let it drip. They prefer to peck at the droplets of water on the floor that I drop rather than to peck at the nipples by themselves. I'm afraid that they might dehydrate. They are all 10 weeks old today. They just aren't the brightest. They haven't learned to roost at night yet either.

 

[LoneOak]

AliNaz, just leave them alone and they'll get it, they will not dehydrate. Once they get thirsty they will find the water real quick and a lot of people don't think they drink enough with the nipples, they just are not wasting as much so the total consumption goes down. Nearly all chickens will drink from the muddy poopy mud puddles before they start gong for the good stuff, as you said basically they are not real smart.

 

[AliNaz]

Thank you LoneOak! Good to hear. I was starting to worry about them. I was out there with my daughter and she started to freak out because one of them was laying down about to start dust bathing. She thought it had passed out. lol

 

[bonnie57]

So basically what I should do is remove the regular water container and just let them go for the nipple system]

 

[LoneOak]

Quote:
YES

The #1 rule of teaching chicks to use nipple water systems is "remove all other forms of water in the pen"! Don't freak out if they don't drink for a day or so, as soon as one figures out there is water when they peck the nipple, all the rest will soon follow.

Chickens always go to the easiest water they can get, so if there is a muddy poop filled puddle of water in the pen they will drink there first, you must remove the puddle and the bowl and the store bought water tank before they will begin to use the nipples regularly. My birds have no other option and use the nipples only.

 

[wyoDreamer]

How high do you install the PVC pipe that has vertical nipples installed?
I have made one and need to install it into the new coop.

 

[LoneOak]

How high do you install the PVC pipe that has vertical nipples installed?
I have made one and need to install it into the new coop.

It doesn't have to be exact, Just what you feel is about head high on your birds. Take a look at my pics above.