Pullets playing with water dispenser!

[Outdoorlover]

When I first introduced my 4 pullets to the new water dispenser, they had such a hard time figuring out how to work the drinking cups, but recently, they actually started "playing" with it!
They peck and grab until they either overflow or unscrew the cups and flood the floor!
I worry that they run out of water when I'm at work, and honestly I don't need the extra work and cost, to constantly replace the bedding in the coop....any suggestions?

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Do your cups have the wingnut on the backside? If not, I would think that putting a bead of silicone caulk around the inside or outside seam (or both), or on the threads themselves, would keep the darlings from unscrewing them. You can buy a small squeeze tube of the stuff at Lowes/Home Depot that doesn't require a caulking gun.

Sounds like they're bored. Maybe you could put some other distractions in the coop for them to play with.

 

[Outdoorlover]

Do your cups have the wingnut on the backside? If not, I would think that putting a bead of silicone caulk around the inside or outside seam (or both), or on the threads themselves, would keep the darlings from unscrewing them. You can buy a small squeeze tube of the stuff at Lowes/Home Depot that doesn't require a caulking gun.

Sounds like they're bored. Maybe you could put some other distractions in the coop for them to play with.

oh I know without a doubt that they do it out of boredom, in fact I had posted to get ideas on how to entertain chickens!

About the drinking cups, they only unscrew the red part, not the threaded part. I'm thinking of superglue it in place, but I'm not sure if it's safe?

 

[Akrnaf2]

When I first introduced my 4 pullets to the new water dispenser, they had such a hard time figuring out how to work the drinking cups, but recently, they actually started "playing" with it!
They peck and grab until they either overflow or unscrew the cups and flood the floor!
I worry that they run out of water when I'm at work, and honestly I don't need the extra work and cost, to constantly replace the bedding in the coop....any suggestions?
View attachment 1086139

Whoo!! your Avatar takes me 40 years back!
Didn't see Calimero all this years!

 

[Abriana]

I think super glue would be safe, just make sure it isn't attractive to them and they can't pick it off and eat it.

 

[Outdoorlover]

Whoo!! your Avatar takes me 40 years back!
Didn't see Calimero all this years!

LOl I was starting to wonder if anyone knew Calimero!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

About the drinking cups, they only unscrew the red part, not the threaded part. I'm thinking of superglue it in place, but I'm not sure if it's safe?

I'm not so sure super glue will work well in that application. I personally would try silicone first. But don't leave a lot exposed because they love to peck it.

 

[imnukensc]

I would replace the cups with horizontal nipples. Do your chickens stay in the coop all day?

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

After looking at a closeup of those cups I'm not so sure silicone would be the way to go. I would cut a wooden match stick (or similar) to fit between the black tab and the red cup. That would prevent the cup from rotating (and then falling off) when they peck at it. Wrap some duct tape around the shaft to keep the match stick from falling out.

 

[Akrnaf2]

LOl I was starting to wonder if anyone knew Calimero!

I guess that you have to be of certain age to know it!