Nipple watering

[aldarita]

The way I did it was to let them come close to the nipples (they are so very curious) and then move the metal pin with my finger and let the water drop fall. Maybe you holding them to try to tap the nipple with their beak is stressing them a bit, I don't know about your two girls but mine don't like me to touch them, I can come really close to them though, as long as they don't see me as a threat.
Also keep in mind that wet environment is not good, I have sand on my run and move it around regularly to dry the area under the nipples (when they drink from them, there is always water falling off on the ground). Wet areas are good media for coccidia to flourish so try to keep it as dry as you can (this is why some people prefer horizontal nipples).
Good luck with your girls

 

[User395221]

they are so very curious

I find all animals especially curious when you've got food in your hand....

 

[gpeters3]

I use a heated drinker for primary source but leave a bucket with 4 nipples hanging near it. All i can say is that the bucket gets emptied. Could be leaking, dont know. I just keep both with water. This spring when i buy chicks i will provide them with nipple bucket as well. Ive tried many feeder and drinker systems in an effort to keep them clean. I now hang everything at s level which allows them to reach it with s little effort and it all stays clean. I still have to raise the nipple bucket a bit more so they can walk under it. A dog typically wont poop in its bed or food but chickens absolutely dont care.

 

[ponytas]

My chicks are 12 days old now, and every day since I picked them up from the hatchery they have "trashed" their water trough (one of the red plastic base units with an inverted mason jar) with pine shavings and poop. So, I decided to try to get them to use a homemade water dispenser. I took an empty Hershey's cocoa can (the plastic one that's rectangular in shape) and I drilled two3/8" holes in the bottom. I put two pre-threaded hydration nipples (a four-pack at Tractor Supply is $3.99) into the holes, twisted a piece of braided wire around the lip of the container and fastened it over the edge of the cardboard brooding box. After I filled the container with warm water, I picked just two chicks (the runt, and the biggest Welsummer) and gave them each a drink from the nipple. That was all it took to get the other chicks curious. I put a scrap piece of 2x4 in the box so the smaller chicks could reach the nipples and by the end of the day yesterday all of the chicks were actively drinking from the nipples even though the other water source was still in the box. So, no more mess with the water for me or the chicks.

 

[chickenlarry]

the base heaters work just fine with a plastic bucket. I've been using one on a heated base all winter and no problem.

 

[WVDoug]

My chicks are 12 days old now, and every day since I picked them up from the hatchery they have "trashed" their water trough (one of the red plastic base units with an inverted mason jar) with pine shavings and poop. So, I decided to try to get them to use a homemade water dispenser. I took an empty Hershey's cocoa can (the plastic one that's rectangular in shape) and I drilled two3/8" holes in the bottom. I put two pre-threaded hydration nipples (a four-pack at Tractor Supply is $3.99) into the holes, twisted a piece of braided wire around the lip of the container and fastened it over the edge of the cardboard brooding box. After I filled the container with warm water, I picked just two chicks (the runt, and the biggest Welsummer) and gave them each a drink from the nipple. That was all it took to get the other chicks curious. I put a scrap piece of 2x4 in the box so the smaller chicks could reach the nipples and by the end of the day yesterday all of the chicks were actively drinking from the nipples even though the other water source was still in the box. So, no more mess with the water for me or the chicks.

For chicks, I use the nipples screwed though the cap of an inverted 2 liter bottle (with hole in bottle "bottom" to let air in). Lasts longer.

 

[ponytas]

Start the chicks as soon as possible on the hydrating bucket. I started my chicks at two weeks. For two days after introducing the watering nipples into the brooder, I continued to offer the original water source (inverted Mason jar in saucer-type dish). I watched the chicks to make sure that each one had used the nipples several times, and once I was comfortable that all of them were drinking, I removed the original water tray.. Originally, I used a small food-grade Hershey's cocoa can to hold their water with just two nipples as my first attempt to introduce watering nipples, but the container did not hold enough water for 6 chicks for a day. So, I bought a small pail (a 1 gal. size) for under $3. I put 4 nipples in the bottom and secured the pail over the side of the brood box with a cord. I put a mark on the pail to monitor the amount of water being consumed. I appears that 6 chicks are consuming two full cups of water a day. I watch them a lot to be certain that every chick is drinking and that none are showing signs of dehydration. You should have great success with nipples for watering if you start them on a hydration bucket. I don't know anything about a using a PVC line with nipples from either a hose or rain barrel, but YouTube has several videos made by people who are doing it successfully. You can buy a 3 gal. hydration bucket that comes with a lid, water cap, and four nipples for about $15, or you can make you own for a lot less if you have a drill, 3/8" drill bit, a pail, and a pack of watering nipples (usually about $4 for four nipples with silicone washers attached).

 

[Poulterrific]

I just assembled a bucket this afternoon. Haven't refilled the chickens' regular watering trough.I went to stand by the bucket and after a few minutes, curiosity brought a couple of them over, and they figured it out right away! I am sure the rest of the flock will figure it out from watching the ones that know how to use it.

How long should I expect 5 gallons to last with 8 chickens before needing a refill?

 

[User395221]

How long should I expect 5 gallons to last with 8 chickens before needing a refill?

Depends on the size of the chooks and how hot it is, but I have a 15 litre water container in my run. converter says 5 us gallons is about 19 litres. I have 7 little (bantam, 2 are normal size) chooks in there, they don't go through a third of that in a week. I'm sure they drink a lot more in summer.

I check daily, refill weekly, rather than wait for it to need refilling. I'm neurotic about water availability.

 

[Poulterrific]

Depends on the size of the chooks and how hot it is, but I have a 15 litre water container in my run.  converter says 5 us gallons is about 19 litres.  I have 7 little (bantam, 2 are normal size) chooks in there, they don't go through a third of that in a week. I'm sure they drink a lot more in summer.  

I check daily, refill weekly, rather than wait for it to need refilling.  I'm neurotic about water availability.  

Thanks for the reply. I live in an arid climate so they will probably need a bit more, but this gives me a good idea of what to expect. I am using a little watering device that has the nipples attached to a clear plastic box, which is then attached to the bucket. It will allow me to visibly check that there is water available without removing the bucket lid. I did drill two little 1/8" (3mm or so) holes in the lid to make sure it doesn't get a vacuum lock.

I will have the rest of the summer to figure out a long term winter watering solution. I have a 55 gallon water storage drum I can use to keep them in water during the freezing months, with hopes I will only need to refill it a few times during the winter.