Problem Solver OR Problem Maker?

[ChickenyChickeny]

Nipple waterers. Do they solve problems, by not spilling as easily as bucket waterers, or do they make problems because they are finicky? I am asking because I want to find a waterer that doesn't spill to easily (I have big problems with water spilling in the coop in winter, so, frostbite ), but I have heard that nipple waterers have their disadvantages. And what is a good way to heat water? Building a water heater yourself, or should I just buy one? Please weigh in with your opinion! I mean, now that you have read to the end of this, you might as well tell your opinion/experience/knowledge.


Allllllllsssso...... has anyone tried this?
https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?prodID=HTD2
I think it looks flimsy but... I don't know...

 

[N F C]

Nipple waterers. Do they solve problems, by not spilling as easily as bucket waterers, or do they make problems because they are finicky? I am asking because I want to find a waterer that doesn't spill to easily (I have big problems with water spilling in the coop in winter, so, frostbite ), but I have heard that nipple waterers have their disadvantages. And what is a good way to heat water? Building a water heater yourself, or should I just buy one? Please weigh in with your opinion! I mean, now that you have read to the end of this, you might as well tell your opinion/experience/knowledge.


Allllllllsssso...... has anyone tried this?
https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?prodID=HTD2
I think it looks flimsy but... I don't know...

Just out of curiosity, I looked at heated waterers with nipples on Premier 1. Is this the same one that you are looking at on the Meyer site? If so, the Premier 1 is quite a bit less expensive.
heated-poultry-waterer

I haven't tried either one myself.

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Just out of curiosity, I looked at heated waterers with nipples on Premier 1. Is this the same one that you are looking at on the Meyer site? If so, the Premier 1 is quiet a bit less expensive.
heated-poultry-waterer

I haven't tried either on myself.

thanks for the link! 54$ is way more reasonable than 75$

 

[wamtazlady]

For water I use a 10 gallon semi clear plastic tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and stock tank deicer that is rated to use in plastic. Has been as cold as -22 F and the birds still had water. With a dozen birds it only needs filled once a week which is great because I hate being outside in the winter in Northern Montana.

Many people use a 5 gallon bucket or other type of container. We all use what works best for our set ups.

I don't know what you mean by finicky. My waterer is going into its 4th year without a problem.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If by "finicky" you mean the chickens don't prefer it, you're right, they don't, but they'll use it if that's their only source of water. Frankly I'd rather deal with less mess, less cleaning, less refilling. The only time I offer open sources of water is in the hotter parts of summer (90 degrees+) as I want to make sure they stay hydrated and can cool off by wetting their feet.

I plan on getting that Premier waterer once it's back in stock, I like the fact that it appears opaque to thwart algae growth and it holds a decent amount of water for a smaller flock. Already have a 2 gal vertical nipple waterer but with a larger flock I need something with more nipples. The past few years I've been using an aquarium heater to keep the water liquid as my temps don't drop too far below freezing, though with a vertical set up the nipples do freeze so I have to manually defrost those sometimes.

 

[wamtazlady]

I will also give mine a shallow pan of water during the warmer months. They can stand in there and cool off.

 

[pennyJo1960]

only time I have free water is peeps less than two weeks old anyone else horizontal nipples

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

For water I use a 10 gallon semi clear plastic tote with lid, horizontal nipples, and stock tank deicer that is rated to use in plastic. Has been as cold as -22 F and the birds still had water. With a dozen birds it only needs filled once a week which is great because I hate being outside in the winter in Northern Montana.

Many people use a 5 gallon bucket or other type of container. We all use what works best for our set ups.

I don't know what you mean by finicky. My waterer is going into its 4th year without a problem.

by finicky i meant, do they break easier? how are they in freezing temps (i'm in alberta, and we get -30° Celsius)? will chickens usually drink from them if they have no other water, or will they flat out refuse to drink from it and get dehydrated ?i am worried that if there is a metal nipple, the chickens ( i only have two) will get there tongues frozen onto it. But if it's heated, would that be prevented?

 

[wamtazlady]

by finicky i meant, do they break easier? how are they in freezing temps (i'm in alberta, and we get -30° Celsius)? will chickens usually drink from them if they have no other water, or will they flat out refuse to drink from it and get dehydrated ?i am worried that if there is a metal nipple, the chickens ( i only have two) will get there tongues frozen onto it. But if it's heated, would that be prevented?

Minus 30 C is the same as - 22 F. I got down to -22 F last winter and my birds still had water to drink. Any colder than that and I'm not sure what would have happened. At that temperature I noticed some frost forming on the top of the water.

My waterer is going into its 4th winter. Hasn't broken yet. I have some spare nipples in the drawer. Since my nipples are getting old I'm going to keep an eye on them this year. If I notice any getting slower I'll just replace them.

I have never heard of a chicken that would decide death was better than using a horizontal nipple. Both my neighbors on each side had chickens for a few years. My birds and theirs would all free range together. Even their chickens used the nipples at my place rather than run home for a drink. I can only tell you that I have had several batches of chickens over 5 years. I have never had a chicken that did not learn to use the nipple within a couple hours. Most were using a nipple within an hour.

No, they will not get their tongues frozen to it. They push on the metal rod with their beaks. Then they swallow the water that comes out. Other than the rod the rest of the nipple that they will touch is plastic. If the water isn't frozen i don't see how they can freeze their tongues to thawed out water.

 

[ronott1]

nipple water fountains work very well!

I do have a problem with buckets getting brittle from the sun here. I need to find UV resistant buckets!