Nipple waterers and hens not drinking enough

[trilyn]

Quote:
Yeah...mine do the same thing and I know they drink from the waterers...they just do it to shame us! LOL Mine are all using the nipple waterers...they're nearly empty when I let them out to free range and I fill them daily. The second I let them out, they all crowd around the bell waterer I have...they're chickens...LOL!

 

[mljohnson05]

Quote:
YES...if you do not have an air hole, the pressure will not let the water to come out.

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Yes you need to avoid a vaccum.
It takes only one, tiny hole. Nothing more that would allow dirt, insects, etc to get into the pail.

 

[bigdogmom130]

I have 2 nipple waterers and my chickens drink from them, but if I let them out to free range, they also find puddles and anything else with water in it. In the summer I keep extra cat litter pans filled with cold water too. They'll drink from them and walk thru them to keep cool. It's a chicken thing! lol

 

[ga_goat]

I had the nipples on rabbit pens (300 of them ) and they worked fine , but I've tried them on chickens and I just don't like the results
they were just going crazy when any other water presented itself , mine are now laying out in the failed experiment pile . along with the twist off leakers . currently useing open pan stainless steel buffett pans that holds about 3 gallons and clean them out every nite ,, but they love them .

 

[chknfrmr]

My 3 week old chicks are drinking from the chicken nippples with no issues. If they are thirsty, I think they'll drink form whatever is available. The nipples are certainly easier from my standpoint, so I think I'll keep them. No more cleaning out the founts or pans.

Lamar

 

[debid]

I'm using a bucket nipple waterer for my chicks in their coop. I was putting a bowl of water out when I let them out in the yard to play but they kept spilling it or pooping in it and they seemed suspicious of actually drinking that water. So, I found an old sawhorse and hung their brooder bucket (also a nipple waterer) from it and they ran over and attacked the nipple like they'd been deprived of water for hours. They're definitely getting enough water.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

Most chickens in the US only livve for two years so saying that most chickens drink from nipples and is fine does not neccesarily mean they are better. Chickens prefer to drink from an open source so that is what I give them. I always felt like my chickens were dehydrated when I used nipples and am very happy with the cups like these so that they can drink feely and happily.

 

[debid]

Quote:
Actually, mine prefer what they're used to. They fully ignored a puddle by the air conditioner and the dish I put out choosing the familiar nipple instead.

And I don't think battery hens only live for 2 years because they're deprived of water...

 

[karimw]

I have the water fonts, open bowls, nipple waterers and of course puddles. I have found my flock acts especially parched whenever I put fresh water in any of them. They would just prefer it fresh from the pump