Nipple watering systems. How do the birds learn how to use them?

[cupman]

Hey, fellas, I am a laying hen kind of bird owner but one of my good friends just ordered 250 meat birds. I had 10 nipple waterers laying around and we ran a PVC pipe in his run and got it working well. I was kind of a slacker and, while I got the nipple waterers, I never used them on my own birds. So when my friend asks me how the birds learn to use them and if meat birds will use them... etc.. I am not really sure. I am hoping you guys can help me out. So I have two questions

1) Will meat chickens know how to use the nipple waterers hooked to the PVC pipe?

2) Do they learn on their own or do I need to motivate them?

Thanks, guys. Oh and maybe bonus question, is 10 nipples spread over 20 feet enough room for 250 birds or should we hook up more nipples? Again, thanks!

 

[NYcue]

I have barred rock hens... they are considered a hybrid breed... both layer and meat birds. Though I have no intention on eating them.

When I installed the nipple system, I simply gathered them and showed them by hitting the nipples with my hand which caused water to leak. That got their attention and they learned very quickly.

I'm not sure about the bonus question... but I don't believe 10 nipples would be enough for 250 birds my self.

EDIT... did a little checking and I found this... "The recommendation is one nipple per 3-4 chickens"....

 

[LoneOak]

The number 1 rule for teaching birds to use any type of new watering system, standard Nipples-horizontal nipples-auto cups-etc, is to Remove all other sources of water! As long as they have what they are familiar with they will use it first and will never try something new. If their only choice is to drink from that new shiny metal thingy hanging under the pipe, it won't take but one thirsty bird to try it and show everybody else where to get a drink.

So just to be perfectly clear, to teach your birds to use the nipples, remember rule #1-----

Remove all other sources of water!

 

[Blooie]

Mine picked up on it immediately...they were curious about that bucket and those new little red thingies, a few went over and pecked at them.....presto - training over! Took out the nasty, litter poop collecting waterer they had and we've never looked back! Gonna invest in the horizontal nipples, though. These tend to leak a little bit despite epoxy and teflon tape, but I just rake out the little bit of damp litter under it, mix it in with the dry, and it's working fine.

 

[ChickenJerk]

Hey, fellas, I am a laying hen kind of bird owner but one of my good friends just ordered 250 meat birds. I had 10 nipple waterers laying around and we ran a PVC pipe in his run and got it working well. I was kind of a slacker and, while I got the nipple waterers, I never used them on my own birds. So when my friend asks me how the birds learn to use them and if meat birds will use them... etc.. I am not really sure. I am hoping you guys can help me out. So I have two questions

1) Will meat chickens know how to use the nipple waterers hooked to the PVC pipe?

2) Do they learn on their own or do I need to motivate them?

Thanks, guys. Oh and maybe bonus question, is 10 nipples spread over 20 feet enough room for 250 birds or should we hook up more nipples? Again, thanks!

1) Almost all the meat chickens in the US and CAnada are grown on nipple drinkers. They get all their water day old to market from these devices.
2) They will figure it out if you have the nipples at or near the optimum height.
B) One nipple per 15 birds ten days or older is standard for meat chickens. On a pipe it is counter productive to have nipple drinkers closer together than 10" on center.

 

[RMckin5324]

I just ordered a Brite Tap Chicken Waterer for my girls. It's attached to a 2 Gallon igloo container. I'm looking forward to getting it.

-- Rick McKinney
Outside of Boston

 

[cupman]

Thanks, guys.

 

[RMckin5324]

They say to show them what it is and they'll learn...........I'm a little nervous myself, but I'll keep a regular bowl there for a bit.

- Rick McKinney
Outside of Boston

 

[Leha]

Everything I've read says to remove all sources of water, otherwise, they won't even try to learn. I tapped my nipples a couple times to show them and within 5minutes, they had figured it out. Same thing with the feeder. I waited until they were hungry enough to try anything, put the feeder in and within 20 seconds, they were lined up sticking their heads in.

If they're thirsty, they will find a way to make it work. Once one of them figures it out, it shows the others how to do it.

 

[bustedchicks]

I showed a few how to use the nipples. They now use borh nipples and normal waterer. When I get full sytem setup it will just be nipples.

The nipples seem to supply less water and they tend to hangout with them for a bit.