training to use new waterer

[canadian flock]

I recently ordered 5 chicken drinking cups. They are basically little orange cups with a lever inside. When the chickens move the lever with their beak, water comes out. It's actually pretty nifty and I rigged up a pvc waterer to screw them into. The only problem is that they haven't figured out how to make the water come out. I have taken out their other waterer to try to make them pay more attention to it. I have been filling them with my finger frequently throughout the day but school is coming up and I won't be around to do that. Any ideas?

 

[chfite]

Are the cups mounted at the correct height? Generally, one chicken figures out how to use a nipple and the rest follow suit. Have you watched to see if one can use the cups?

Chris

 

[canadian flock]

The cups are level with the flat part of there backs. They drink what I have filled, and move on from cup to cup.

 

[rileyelliott]

hi there! i just bought these, too. how did this end up. did your chickens ever start drinking from it?

 

[canadian flock]

actually they did. I left it with them as well as another waterer because i was afraid of them going without water because they couldn't figure it out. I was putting them away for the night when I saw them drinking out of it. Put another hen in with them (they were separated due to being unready to integrate) because of bullying issues. The new hen saw them using it and picked up on it really fast. Haven't had an issue with them except when one decided to perch on the cup which pushed the lever. Big puddle but it's not a big deal.