Nipple watering

[MeepBeep]

How many nipples would be ideal for 4 chickens? I am thinking I'll just do one for each since our summers are hot, unless you think that's overkill.

2 should be quite sufficient but feel free to add more... I have 10 nipples for about 100 birds and there is never a line to get water... In fact I generally only see one or two drinking at a time, it's never a mad rush since it's there 24/7...

I'm hoping to remove the other waterer in the next couple days.

Nipples are a convenience for us, if you provide them a alternative some won't bother with the nipples... Remove the other water source and the others will start to use the nipples...

 

[saraem]

Thanks MeepBeep. My son has climbed into the brooder and is giving them some nipple waterer boot camp. Once they've all at least had their beaks dipped we'll take out the other water.

 

[saraem]

They still can't figure the darned thing out. They understand that water comes out of it but don't get that they need to peck hard enough to push it in to get water. They have been biting the nipple, biting the red plastic, pecking it (but not hard enough) and sipping the water I'm releasing by hitting it with my finger for the last hour.

I had previously thought they got it but they didn't understand how to operate it, and we took some time off while I transitioned them to FF since I couldn't deal with them boycotting 2 things at once.

Advice?

 

[WVDoug]

They still can't figure the darned thing out. They understand that water comes out of it but don't get that they need to peck hard enough to push it in to get water. They have been biting the nipple, biting the red plastic, pecking it (but not hard enough) and sipping the water I'm releasing by hitting it with my finger for the last hour.

I had previously thought they got it but they didn't understand how to operate it, and we took some time off while I transitioned them to FF since I couldn't deal with them boycotting 2 things at once.

Advice?

Stop doing it for them. When they get thirsty enough, they'll figure it out (but check anyway to be sure the water level is dropping).

Have you touched their beaks to the pin?

 

[MeepBeep]

They still can't figure the darned thing out. They understand that water comes out of it but don't get that they need to peck hard enough to push it in to get water. They have been biting the nipple, biting the red plastic, pecking it (but not hard enough) and sipping the water I'm releasing by hitting it with my finger for the last hour.


I had previously thought they got it but they didn't understand how to operate it, and we took some time off while I transitioned them to FF since I couldn't deal with them boycotting 2 things at once.


Advice?

Stop doing it for them.  When they get thirsty enough, they'll figure it out (but check anyway to be sure the water level is dropping).

Have you touched their beaks to the pin?

Exactly, remove all water, make the current water level and remeasure it in 24 hours, I'll bet you will find they are drinking it...

 

[Blooie]

I think the pin on the horizontal nipple is harder for littler chicks to trip. I start mine on vertical nipples and when I know they have it down I switch them out. Never had a problem doing it this way, and I also don't put any other kind of waterer in there.

 

[MeepBeep]

I think the pin on the horizontal nipple is harder for littler chicks to trip.  I start mine on vertical nipples and when I know they have it down I switch them out.  Never had a problem doing it this way, and I also don't put any other kind of waterer in there.  

I use horizontals nipples exclusively from day 3 onward... Yeah they don't hit the pin hard like bigger chickens do, instead they wedge their beak along side the pin like they are digging in a hole for something, the same end result is water flowing...

I figure if a day zero chick has enough beak strength to pip and zip they have plenty enough strength to trigger the nipple..

 

[saraem]

I use horizontals nipples exclusively from day 3 onward... Yeah they don't hit the pin hard like bigger chickens do, instead they wedge their beak along side the pin like they are digging in a hole for something, the same end result is water flowing...

I figure if a day zero chick has enough beak strength to pip and zip they have plenty enough strength to trigger the nipple..

That's what mine do too...the digging on the side thing. I couldn't tell that they were getting water when they did that, maybe they were just drinking it as it came out rather than letting it pool in the lip and then sipping it.

 

[MeepBeep]

I use horizontals nipples exclusively from day 3 onward... Yeah they don't hit the pin hard like bigger chickens do, instead they wedge their beak along side the pin like they are digging in a hole for something, the same end result is water flowing...

I figure if a day zero chick has enough beak strength to pip and zip they have plenty enough strength to trigger the nipple..

That's what mine do too...the digging on the side thing. I couldn't tell that they were getting water when they did that, maybe they were just drinking it as it came out rather than letting it pool in the lip and then sipping it.

If you watch them, when they get some water in their beak, they will raise their head and look to the sky so it goes down their throat...

 

[saraem]

That's the thing, mine weren't doing the "raise and swallow" business at all when they were messing with it. That's what led me to believe they weren't getting anything unless I tapped it for them.

Will try again tomorrow withholding other water for a bit!