Rabbit water bottles?

[ChickNanny13]

I ferment chicks & adults feed which tends to have them drink less. I also add ACV to chicks water which helps with any pasty butts, for the adults I add to their water for a few days once a month.

I was concerned about the chicks not getting enough water too, the nipples recommend not for any <8wks but I've tried at 4wk, they do fine. I mark the container so I can watch the water level, starting off with alot of my playing with the nipple to show them how it's done. When I first started using, I'd use the water nipple container for a couple days then the qt waterer (found more spilled than drank) for a day. Haven't had a problem, we all use/do what we're comfortable with.

Enjoy your chicks

 

[nminusyplusm]

Chick Nanny, I've read posts where people said their chicks weren't drinking enough from the nipples. That worries me. As a new owner, I don't want them getting dehydrated. Not sure what I'll end up doing, but I really appreciate the suggestions!

There's no need to worry about chicks drinking from nipples. The red color makes them want to peck at it. All you have to do is dip their beaks once into the water in the bottom cup like indentation and they get it. I never had a problem. Maybe someone had an issue with the vertical ones? I don't know... all I can say is your chicks will drink plenty from the horizontal ones and you never have to teach them again.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I was concerned about the chicks not getting enough water too, the nipples recommend not for any <8wks but I've tried at 4wk, they do fine. I mark the container so I can watch the water level, starting off with alot of my playing with the nipple to show them how it's done. When I first started using, I'd use the water nipple container for a couple days then the qt waterer (found more spilled than drank) for a day. Haven't had a problem, we all use/do what we're comfortable with.

Enjoy your chicks

Interesting, I didn't know they weren't recommended for younger chicks. Mine did fine with them right from the start. But I did monitor everything constantly because they were my first chicks and I was paranoid, wanted to make sure they were ok and I wasn't making a mistake.

I just made sure the nipples were at beak level and adjusted height as they grew. I did use a mama heating pad so those nipples were the only red color in the brooder and they'd run across the length of it and attack the nipples. Very funny to watch...

Maybe they're not recommended because of red bulbed heat lamps? Hmm...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I know commercial growers use them for baby chicks. Supposedly for day olds. I doubt with 50,000 birds in a building that they have time to use water founts.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...

Maybe they're not recommended because of red bulbed heat lamps? Hmm...

One can use ceramic heat emitters or heat plates rather than red heat lamps. And then use blue lights which are more calming to chickens.

 

[sylviethecochin]

This information is so useful! Yes, standard size chickens sure do drink a lot more than bantams, don't they? Do you use the TSC one-quart waterer even when they are in the brooder? Or should I get something else? Will it take up too much room in a 40 gallon aquarium brooder? I'm thinking I need a small set of feeder and drinker, and then a larger set when they are out of the brooder. Is that how you did it?

I've only ever used a standard quart waterer in the brooder, when I have a smaller number of chicks (less than ten) and when I have no ducks. If I have ducklings and they're not being raised outside, they get a rabbit waterer. It's just too much mess in the brooder, otherwise. Adult hens get a bucket in the coop, adult ducks have a pond and some rubber pans in the winter.

I imagine it would fit in an aquarium fine. The waterer has about a seven-inch diameter; it's not large.

I'd switch to a half-gallon waterer when they're adults, but I think a quart feeder should be fine throughout their lives, if you're only getting four.

And really, I'd bet money my setup isn't the best. It's worked fine for me, but you should figure out what you like. If they're going to be cage birds, a rabbit waterer would work well. If they're going to be in a coop, a nipple waterer is supposed to be one of the best ways of keeping water clean. As long as they get enough water, and it's decently clean, it's not really an issue. Want do you feel like using?

 

[Seaecho]

This is great! Several different options to ponder! They'd won't be in cages, but a small coop and run. The rabbit water bottles are so small (the stainless steel end) that I worry they'll "forget" where it is, opposed to something red. And only having the show them once? They may have pea sized brains, but I know of several DOGS that would not learn something like that in one lesson!

Now I know what size waterer to use for them! A quart will work out fine. Seven inches around should fit in the aquarium just fine. I'm intrigued with the idea of the nipple waterer too, but read some reviews that the nipples sometimes get clogged? That scares me. So does the price they charge, and I'm not good at DIY stuff. Every time I almost decide on a method, I read a negative review (or several) and then end up frustrated again.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I'm intrigued with the idea of the nipple waterer too, but read some reviews that the nipples sometimes get clogged? That scares me. So does the price they charge, and I'm not good at DIY stuff. Every time I almost decide on a method, I read a negative review (or several) and then end up frustrated again.

Mine have never clogged. If you see them in action in person you'll notice they're kind of anti-clogging in that the water only goes in one direction so as it comes out they sort of self clean. And they are very easy to install. All you need to do is drill a hole with the right size drill bit. If you make a mistake, use another container you have lying around. Super simple.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Have been using mine for about a year now, no clog and as nminusyplusm stated, there's no way it can clog. No DYI here, just drill the hole & insert the nipple and don't forget the "vent hole" along the rim.

@nminusyplusm did you find you needed vent the container to prevent a vacuum? Installed the nipples put the lid on but then the next day noticed no water was coming out, then it dawned on me = vacuum So I drilled a hole about an inch below the rim & that did the trick.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Have been using mine for about a year now, no clog and as nminusyplusm stated, there's no way it can clog. No DYI here, just drill the hole & insert the nipple and don't forget the "vent hole" along the rim.

@nminusyplusm did you find you needed vent the container to prevent a vacuum? Installed the nipples put the lid on but then the next day noticed no water was coming out, then it dawned on me = vacuum So I drilled a hole about an inch below the rim & that did the trick.

Yes, I poked a vent hole in the yogurt container lid. Thank you for remembering that detail!