Question about Horizontal Water nipples

[tvett62]

I have a question, how old should chicks be to start using the horizontal nipples? I have seen at my feed store the bins of chicks have hanging buckets with the vertical nipples but I've been told they tend to leak much more. I have a bucket with the horizontal nipples. How young can I start my chicks on them. I am tired of everything getting in their water already... I have to change it out many times a day....

 

[tvett62]

I have a question, how old should chicks be to start using the horizontal nipples? I have seen at my feed store the bins of chicks have hanging buckets with the vertical nipples but I've been told they tend to leak much more. I have a bucket with the horizontal nipples. How young can I start my chicks on them. I am tired of everything getting in their water already... I have to change it out many times a day....

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

My chicks use them from hatch or when they arrive.
If yours are leaking, remove the nipples and wrap each one with 2-3 wraps of Teflon plumbers tape then very carefully reinsert them. You shouldn't have any leaks.
If you do, the hole in the bucket may have been drilled a little too large in which case you can get a new bucket and start over.
Remember to thread them very carefully with Teflon coated threads for a water tight seal.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Vertical nipples - chicks can use on day 1 (based on my limited chick raising experiences)

Horizontal nipples - chicks need to be 3 weeks old to have the strength to push the spring in and get water out (based on lots of reading)

 

[tvett62]

My chicks use them from hatch or when they arrive.
If yours are leaking, remove the nipples and wrap each one with 2-3 wraps of Teflon plumbers tape then very carefully reinsert them. You shouldn't have any leaks.
If you do, the hole in the bucket may have been drilled a little too large in which case you can get a new bucket and start over.
Remember to thread them very carefully with Teflon coated threads for a water tight seal.

Thank you. I made two buckets yesterday with horizontal nipples. They work great, no leaks my chicks are now 4 days old. Do you think I can try them on the horizontal nipples now? That would be great and a lot less messy. Thank you for the help

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you. I made two buckets yesterday with horizontal nipples. They work great, no leaks my chicks are now 4 days old. Do you think I can try them on the horizontal nipples now? That would be great and a lot less messy. Thank you for the help

Absolutely. Don't put a lot of water in them and hang them securely.
You will either have to raise the bucket as they grow or put a stack of blocks under it so they can reach the nipples then remove blocks one at a time as they get bigger.

 

[tvett62]

Absolutely. Don't put a lot of water in them and hang them securely.
You will either have to raise the bucket as they grow or put a stack of blocks under it so they can reach the nipples then remove blocks one at a time as they get bigger.

Thank you so much for the great tip. I will do that today after I clean the brooder.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I worry that horizontal nipples will be more difficult for chicks to use, so make sure they're all getting the hang of it and are able to successfully drink from them before permanently removing other water sources.

 

[Blue_dingo]

I use horizontal nipples on a small scale from about day 10 on. I dont use a bucket at that age, however, i use a small clear water bottle that most likely puts a smaller amount of water pressure on the nipple making it easier to push. Good luck changing the water is a pain!!!

 

[Doc7]

Vertical nipples - chicks can use on day 1 (based on my limited chick raising experiences)

Horizontal nipples - chicks need to be 3 weeks old to have the strength to push the spring in and get water out (based on lots of reading)

Hello,

The lots of reading gave you false info and I hope you are confident to move forward earlier than that. I and other posts in this thread use horizontal nipples much earlier than that. They don't push the nipples in. You flick them to the side. It takes MUCH less pressure than pushing them in takes. I do it with a full 5 gallon bucket, starting on Day 10. I get tired of mucking out dirty water from the catch pan underneath the verticals by that time!