Nipple waterers - hang or set on something?

[KSH1]

I have a 4-gallon waterer with 2 horizontal nipples. I think it's a Manna Pro or Harris Farms thing; found it on clearance. It has a hook but if I hang it, when they peck at the nipples it spins away from them. Right now I'm using the hanger to stabilize it so they can't knock it over, but it's resting on bricks so it doesn't rotate. Do those of you who have homemade nipple waterers use blocks or is this a design flaw in this particular waterer? I'm picturing a big stack of blocks by the time these Jersey Giants and Brahmas grow up! Also, how many chickens per nipple? Thanks!

 

[ocap]

I built nipple waterers to hang. later I put them in a brooder on bricks. You might have to tie it in a way to prevent spinning.

 

[sealer39]

I don’t know what shape your bucket is but I made two waterers out of 5 gallon buckets with horizontal nipples. I just turned a 3rd 5gl bucket upside down on the ground and set the waterer on it. It is a perfect height for my large fowl sized chickens. The other waterer is in the coup on a shelf I built.

 

[blackdog043]

I have my waterers on cap blocks, when they hang it's like trying to hit a moving target. Plus one of mine is 14 gallon, not hanging that. 1 nipple to every 3 - 4 hens is what I go by. My no waste feeders sit on cap blocks also.

 

[Sueby]

I have a 2 gallon bucket with 3 horizontal nipples hung off a chain link fence so it doesn't move. Sometimes I'll put that in the coop with electrolytes in it when it's hot, when I do I put it in a dish on blocks so it doesn't move and they don't get the bedding wet.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I have a article on them: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-water-nipples.75104/

 

[rosemarythyme]

My nipple bucket sits on an upside down 5 gal bucket. Sits slightly on the high side but no worries about chickens trying to land a drink from a spinning, wobbling waterer.

 

[DanEP]

I never hang my waterers with horizontal nipples only the vertical ones.