Poultry Watering Cups?

[Fluffy_Feathers]

I have a bucket that we put nipples on, but one of my hens has terrible eyesight and can't hit the nipple to get water. So, I want to try the watering cups. From everything I have seen, the cups are on pcv pipe. Does it have to be on a pipe, or will I be okay putting it straight on a bucket?

 

[WhiteWyan]

I saw a YouTube video once where someone had success using cup waterers on a 5 gal bucket. They are designed for use with pressurized water but as long as you have some pressure coming from a fairly decent water level you should be okay. Might want to make sure it stays relatively full?

 

[Elmochook]

Did you have success with your bucket? I just put mine out yesterday and mine dont seem to understand that THEY can make the water come out by peckong the yellow thing... Do they just drink their fill and walk away leaving it empty every time?

 

[Fluffy_Feathers]

Yeah the bucket worked great for me. They move their beak around in the red cup trying to get water and that makes the yellow plug move. After a while maybe your chickens will understand.

I'm not sure if chickens are smart enough for this, but maybe you could move the yellow plug yourself when one is around to show them. Or, if they know that's where their water comes from, when they get thirsty they will try to drink from the red cup and might be a little more aggressive to get water, and move the plug.

 

[Willis94]

I just built one with a 3 gallon bucket and it works great. I left the girls out for about 2 hours without water, removed there water bowl (only thing they have known for water), manually filled cups with water and let them in. Took all of five minutes for them to figure out. I need to move it further from the food though they are filling the cups with food they haven't swallowed .

 

[Willis94]

Sorry got so excited about it I didn't answer your question. Yes the cup is empty every time just watch for them to swallow that told me they were getting water and they went back to feeding. I marked the bucket and made sure the level had dropped the next day. Good luck.