Vertical (gravity) vs. horizontal (spring loaded) watering nipples

[debp]

At first my horizontal nipples didn't have any water pooling. Now they do. The chickens use those nipples regularly, but still there is almost always a pool of water right below the nipple. And one of my nipples was leaking water, very slowly, but constantly - not from the insertion area, but from the nipple. I monkeyed with it and did get it to stop leaking, but that worried me a bit. It wasn't a simple bit of sand, as it took quite a while for me to get it to stop - and I"m not even sure what I did to make it stop.

 

[pawtraitart]

At first my horizontal nipples didn't have any water pooling. Now they do. The chickens use those nipples regularly, but still there is almost always a pool of water right below the nipple. And one of my nipples was leaking water, very slowly, but constantly - not from the insertion area, but from the nipple. I monkeyed with it and did get it to stop leaking, but that worried me a bit. It wasn't a simple bit of sand, as it took quite a while for me to get it to stop - and I"m not even sure what I did to make it stop.

That's strange. The horizontal nipples are spring loaded. The only thing I can think of that would make them leak is if the spring inside is broken. At what height do you have the nipples set? How old are your birds?

 

[debp]

They may be a little low for my birds, which are 12-weeks now. They bend over a bit to drink.

 

[Leahs Mom]

So far I've only seen one of my birds use them. But it has been way too hot to remove the water pans so I think I'll have to do the "cold turkey" more toward fall. In the meantime I'm leaving them out on the buckets.

 

[iwiw60]

So far I've only seen one of my birds use them. But it has been way too hot to remove the water pans so I think I'll have to do the "cold turkey" more toward fall. In the meantime I'm leaving them out on the buckets.

Yes, with this awful heat it would likely be a bad idea to force them to change over right now, but when you do remember the golden rule...remove all other water sources..all of them. It's tough to do but necessary. I sat in the coop with my little flock and 'flicked' the little stainless steel thingie repeatedly. One of the girls came over out of curiosity and wham! It was all done...they all started right in. Good luck in the fall when you do change over!!

 

[pawtraitart]

In the summer heat, I leave water pans out for my ducks so they can bathe, but sometimes they tip them over and run out of water so I have a 55 gallon drum with the horizontal nipples in my big grow out area as a backup.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I love seeing the video. Gives me hope that they'll actually use these.

 

[pawtraitart]

I love seeing the video. Gives me hope that they'll actually use these.

I've never had a bird fail to learn. It's a life saver for me given the number of birds I raise out this time of year.

 

[Leahs Mom]

For me, my hope is that I can use them with heated water in the winter without the springs freezing up. In summer the water issue isn't huge with my small flock. But I HATE winter water maintenance.

 

[pawtraitart]

For me, my hope is that I can use them with heated water in the winter without the springs freezing up. In summer the water issue isn't huge with my small flock. But I HATE winter water maintenance.

I use them in heated buckets/bottles/barrels with no issues whatsoever. I'm sure you'll be happy.