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

[amandarc]

Frustrated chicks

 

[pawtraitart]

Frustrated chicks

Perfect! They will be experts soon. I've watched chicks learn how to use the horizontal nipples countless times. I raise hundreds every season. As soon as they are two weeks old, I take the cup drinker out and switch them to the nipple drinkers. I've never lost one due to dehydration. I've even started chicks from the day they were taken out of the incubator and they did perfectly fine. You know how turkeys are supposed to be stupid? Even my turkeys will gravitate to the nipple if that's the only source of water they see when they come out of the hatcher.

 

[amandarc]

Thanks, makes me feel better going to bed tonight

 

[aart]

my chicks are about 4 weeks and are having a hard time with the horizontal nipple system. They keep trying to bite it rather than peck it. Suggestions? I don't want them to get dehydrated.

I found my older chicks (4-6 week olds) took much longer to figure it out than the 2 week olds did....2 wk olds took about 2 hours, the olders took about 2 days.

Just take out any other water and don't watch....lol.

 

[pawtraitart]

I found my older chicks (4-6 week olds) took much longer to figure it out than the 2 week olds did....2 wk olds took about 2 hours, the olders took about 2 days.

Just take out any other water and don't watch....lol.

LOL......I agree with the "don't watch". Watching will just make you nervous. After going through it so many times I just switch the drinkers and leave them alone. They always learn. They don't learn faster if I worry.

 

[debp]

I didn't get my horizontal nipple drinkers until my chicks were 7 weeks old. They immediately went over to investigate and starting drinking from it. I have a large metal font outside and they use that, too - i.e., they have a choice all day and still use both sources. I love the horizontal drinkers, as I can have water in the coop without worrying about the floor and bedding getting wet. And with a covered 5-gal. bucket, it lasts and stays clean for days.

 

[matsechler]

For full grown birds what height should the horizontal nipples be places?

 

[ladycat]

For full grown birds what height should the horizontal nipples be places?

At head height so they can look straight at them without lifting their heads or reaching down.

 

[iwiw60]

For full grown birds what height should the horizontal nipples be places?

That would depend on the size of your flock in general. I keep my bucket on cinder blocks (regular size, plus paver sizes)...you just need to adjust them til you get the right height, which should be where they don't need to stretch their necks to try and get to them nor stoop so low that it causes difficulty getting their drink....just keep testing around til you hit the right "spot"!

 

[aatx]

For the first time, my water got spilled last night (5 week old chicks). As I grabbed it and was about to take it to refill it, I decided that it was time to switch to the horizontal nipples instead. I have two waterers in there, both close together, sitting on some bricks. I scooped out the wet shavings, replaced with dry, and had my hubby drill me two holes in a small plastic pail that some bubble gum came in. I then used a cork screw in the thin lid to make a small vent hole.

I put it in the brooder in the same location as the previous waterer. I have the most chicken chicks. They were terrified of it, maybe due to all the bold colors on it. They wouldn't even come back over to their food trough or other waterer. So, I decided to break 'Rule #1' and leave the other waterer in there until I get home from work today. I want them to get used to the bucket first and then we'll work on using it. I figured if they got thirsty enough, they would come back to their normal waterer and maybe investigate this new bucket.

This morning I was able to watch them a bit and they were finally starting to venture back over to the one side of the brooder with the bucket, but they were still giving it very apprehensive looks. I saw some drink from the old waterer and eat at the trough, so I felt like we were on our way to not thinking the bucket was scary.

Right before I left for work I was able to go back to them for about 10 minutes and noticed a few were finally starting to explore the bucket. Right before my time was up, a silkie seemed to figure it out and tapped each nipple several times (tapped the right part, not just the red outside). A few of the others seemed to watch.

I am confident my plan on removing the other waterer tonight when I get home will work fine now that at least one of them knows how to use it. I know I broke the main rule, but they were just so frightened of the bucket. If they had been curious about it, I think I could have gone ahead and been okay with removing the other one right then.

I have three other nipples that I will use on a larger bucket that will go in the run. I'll keep this smaller one for inside the coop. This small one can sit on something and I plan on hanging the larger one, so I can adjust the height as they continue to grow.