Question for nipple and bottle waterer users

[texaspaladin]

My Question: Do any of you who use plastic bottles with nipples for watering use yours without putting a vent hole at the top of the bottle when you hang it? Are the chicks still able to get enough water to flow out when they peck the nipple?

Why I'm asking:

Brooder chicks are 4 weeks old now. I decided pretty quickly that the chick waterer I got from fhe feed store was going to be a pain in the behind.... chicks like to roost on it, poop in it, and knock it over I really liked the nipple waterering systems some folks have done and I decided I'm doing a pvc and nipple system when they go outside in the chicken run in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I made a bottle waterer out of a plastic half gallon snapple bottle by putting a nipple in the cap.

I hung it up in the brooder today and it didn't take long for the chicks to figure it out... big time fun pecking away at the nipple and getting water! I had put a small hole in the bottle at the top because I was worried that as the water level fell it might pull a vacuum and stop the flow of water. During the pecking frenzy a little while ago, the nipple seemed to "hang up" and a steady stream of water started flowing out. Luckily I was standing there or the entire contents of the bottle would have flowed out into the brooder. Not a disaster, but certainly a potential mess. Anyway, I jiggled it and it stopped.

I was thinking the flow from the nipple might have eventually stopped on its own without the vent hole - but I don't want to leave out the vent hole and have the chicks not be able to get water droplets to come out when they peck it.

Thanks!

 

[BrotherJosh]

I just made a simple nipple-waterer from a milk jug - drilled a hole in the bottom so i can hang it from the handle with a simple bungee. I found that if I screwed the top back on tight after filling, the chooks still got water out but it created a vacuum in the bottle and it smooshed it out of shape pretty quick. Unscrewed the top just a bit and it popped back to shape. So, they'd get water out for a while but eventually I'd think the internal vacuum would be too strong for water to actually escape.
Good luck, Josh

 

[texaspaladin]

Thanks! That's pretty much what I was thinking.

quote name="BrotherJosh" url="/t/763268/question-for-nipple-and-bottle-waterer-users#post_10865836"]I just made a simple nipple-waterer from a milk jug - drilled a hole in the bottom so i can hang it from the handle with a simple bungee.  I found that if I screwed the top back on tight after filling, the chooks still got water out but it created a vacuum in the bottle and it smooshed it out of shape pretty quick.  Unscrewed the top just a bit and it popped back to shape.  So, they'd get water out for a while but eventually I'd think the internal vacuum would be too strong for water to actually escape.
Good luck, Josh

 
[/quote]

 

[Our Roost]

Food for thought! Myself and numerous other adventurers are using nipple waterers or better yet, cup type waterers attached to PVC plumbing pipe. The facinating thing is that you can hook it up to a rain barrel, outdoor water faucet or what ever else you choose to contain ample water supply for easier maintenance. Vacuum or trapped air is generally released when the birds peck at the nipple and the trapped air escapes and allows water to come out. A vent hole is definitely a better means to prevent this from happening.
This past winter was my first experience with water freezing and I had to hand carry jugs of water out to the birds twice a day. The outside rain barrel I constructed is good for summer time usage but froze solid when the temperature dropped! 2 things to think about when hooking up your permanent water supply system, a source of heat and electric to keep your water from freezing during the winter months. Of course if you live in Texas, forget this post! They sell a heated wire package to wrap around Pvc or water piping and a heated float ring for your water container. Just thought you might want to explore these thoughts as I didn't!

 

[Hypertay]

My Question: Do any of you who use plastic bottles with nipples for watering use yours without putting a vent hole at the top of the bottle when you hang it? Are the chicks still able to get enough water to flow out when they peck the nipple?

Why I'm asking:

Brooder chicks are 4 weeks old now. I decided pretty quickly that the chick waterer I got from fhe feed store was going to be a pain in the behind.... chicks like to roost on it, poop in it, and knock it over I really liked the nipple waterering systems some folks have done and I decided I'm doing a pvc and nipple system when they go outside in the chicken run in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I made a bottle waterer out of a plastic half gallon snapple bottle by putting a nipple in the cap.

I hung it up in the brooder today and it didn't take long for the chicks to figure it out... big time fun pecking away at the nipple and getting water! I had put a small hole in the bottle at the top because I was worried that as the water level fell it might pull a vacuum and stop the flow of water. During the pecking frenzy a little while ago, the nipple seemed to "hang up" and a steady stream of water started flowing out. Luckily I was standing there or the entire contents of the bottle would have flowed out into the brooder. Not a disaster, but certainly a potential mess. Anyway, I jiggled it and it stopped.

I was thinking the flow from the nipple might have eventually stopped on its own without the vent hole - but I don't want to leave out the vent hole and have the chicks not be able to get water droplets to come out when they peck it.

Thanks!

I have this problem also, but I think I just got cheap nipples that don't work. I'm going to buy different ones this time, the cup type for pvc pipe. I got the first ones from ebay, the type to make a pitcher waterer and a small soda bottle waterer for my brooder and both of them leak like mad with and without a vacuum, straight out from the metal plunger in the center. $17 down the drain and all over the floor!

 

[Our Roost]

If you are looking for a place to buy nipple waterers try qcsupply.com. The problem with nipple waterers and PVC piping is drilling and tapping the proper sized hole for attachment. Make sure you acquire the right tap for the job. I believe I used a 1/8 pipe tap for both the cup and water fittings. No pipe tape is needed. They self seat when tightened.

 

[Hypertay]

If you are looking for a place to buy nipple waterers try qcsupply.com. The problem with nipple waterers and PVC piping is drilling and tapping the proper sized hole for attachment. Make sure you acquire the right tap for the job. I believe I used a 1/8 pipe tap for both the cup and water fittings. No pipe tape is needed. They self seat when tightened.

Great! I went with the 4 nipple pvc system already built, so I can send it back if it leaks! Thanks very much for the company suggestion.

 

[AtHomeOnThRange]

Could one of you recommending the cup type waterers post a link or store name where they can be purchased?

Much Appreciated,

AtHome