Nipple Waterers-How to get older chickens to use them?

[ADozenGirlz]

I just bought a nipple waterer system and have had it hung in the run for 2 days now and nobody has even thought about checking it out.
How do you get your chickens to use one? Thanks in advance for your reply!

 

[bigstack]

What color are the nipples? I want to get some. I figured if they are red the chickens would peck at them out of curiosity. then find the water that way. Im not sure. Sorry! I just made a waterer out of an old feed pan and trough float I got at TSC for $9. I was gonna go the whole toilet float waterer route. Then I priced all the stuff I would need. $9 at TSC was the cheapest way out. Toilet fill/float $10, misc. fittings $3-$6, Bucket $2, glue $.50, Misc. mat. for mounting $2, My time $40. The feed pan and float= old feed pan $3 (if new), Float $9, My time $5. I always figure my time at home as $10 per hr. It helps to figure out actual cost of doing/building things. So Flaot and pan = $14-$17 Toilet method = $57.50-$60.50 or you can buy one ready to go for $40... Just my methods! LOL If nothing else heres a BUMP! LOL

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

The pin is silver, but the housing is red.

 

[briteday]

First I picked a day that was neither too hot or cold (stressing the need for drinking water), removed any other form of water in the pen, and sat next to the nipple waterer...tap it a bit and let the water droplet hang from the tip while they are watching you. It took all of about 20 minutes for all 25 birds to figure it out. Dripping water is a chick(en) magnet!

 

[Dogfish]

Take away their other water source for a few hours, and then go over to it and flick the stainless peg so that water drips out. They will see what you are doing and investigate. Keep on doing this until water drops fall on a few of them, then try to leave a drop on the peg. One of them will get curious, peck at it, then the others will follow.

My CX and laying hen flocks took about an hour for all of them to figure it out. Lead them to water and they will drink.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Thanks Briteday and Dogfish, I think the pieces that I was missing were removing the other water sources (typical mother, I was afraid they might dehydrate if they didn't figure out the new system!) and hanging out briefly illustrating the operation to them.
Thanks a million!

 

[sotelomary]

Hi adozengirz!! The labels were great! I did the same thing with the nipple waterer. I tapped it a few times and within 15 min. all 5 of my girls figured it out.

In one respect, it works great. There is always clean water. But my husband has noticed that even though the chickens drink from it they are always thirsty when I let them out and zero in on areas where water has collected. He feels that they are not getting enough water. I've checked the nipples to make sure they aren't plugged or anything and they appear to be fine. I admit I do agree with him.

I have since bought a short pail for $2 at HOme Depot and put it inside the coop by the edge where I can refill it with the hose without having to go inside and step on poop. I like this little short bucket so much that I am going to buy another one for outside the coop to place where they free range.

I will still use the water with the chicken nipples for when I go on vacation so that my chicken sitter will not have to do any work but collect the eggs through the egg door.

P.s. The nipples are red and I used 3 in a 2-3? gallon bucket that I bought at HOme Depot. It holds enough water for my 5 chickens and they used only about half in a week (which I don' t think is enough).

Mary

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Hi Mary! I'm glad you liked the labels!
I wondered about whether they would get enough water out of those things myself. When I push the pin up, it just doesn't seem like they get much water for the effort. But I guess other folks are using it, so it can't be all bad, right? Have you tried it in a brooder? I worry even more about chicks getting enough to drink. I'd sure like for it to work b/c those little buggers sure do make a mess in the brooder with the shavings and poop in the water!
Thanks for your reply!
-Kathy

 

[sotelomary]

Hi Kathy,

Are you kidding....? I don't dare mention the "B" word around here. Hubby would have a cow!! I can only stick to my 5 hens. I don't want to do the brooder thing. My chickens are enough work and worry, with them pecking at each other and having to order peepers. My husband is always grumbling about how much money I spend on them. I tell him it's cheaper than drinking and smoking!

Mary

p.s. I did a post, raving about you! I didn't know where to put it so I placed it under chicken behaviors, egg laying!lol
Hope you don't get innundated with business. Or maybe I do!?

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
LOL, Mary! You tell him! There are worse vices than raising pets who feed US in return for our troubles!

Ooh, I missed your post on my labels. I'll go look for it. You're so nice, thanks! (And you may wish an innundation of business upon me, I can take it!).