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

[logefarm]

I have 5 day old baby chicks who arrived Friday morning (it's Sunday pm). I switched out their cup waterer to the horizontal nipples about an hour ago. I saw your video, and just wanted to confirm with you that 5 day old chicks are strong enough to activate the system. Our broody hen adopted them, so she's already demonstrating the process Thanks!

 

[rcstanley]

I have 5 day old baby chicks who arrived Friday morning (it's Sunday pm). I switched out their cup waterer to the horizontal nipples about an hour ago. I saw your video, and just wanted to confirm with you that 5 day old chicks are strong enough to activate the system. Our broody hen adopted them, so she's already demonstrating the process Thanks!

With a broody, they'll be fine. She'll get water and they'll drink when she does. Without a broody, my horizontal nipples said the chicks needed to be 8 days old.

 

[DreamsInPink]

With a broody, they'll be fine. She'll get water and they'll drink when she does. Without a broody, my horizontal nipples said the chicks needed to be 8 days old.

So a chick that young has the physical ability/strength to get water from them? That's awesome. I was afraid I'd have to wait much longer.

 

[MeepBeep]

If the ball inside sits well, it's not going to leak.  Mine sat on a workbench for a week and didn't lose a drop.  That said, I believe you, but I'd like to know more about how it happens, because it's not an inherent design flaw

I know this reply was old but since the thread was bumped...

My hard water will cause vertical nipples to start dripping within a few days time when in use, the only way to stop them from dripping after a few days is to take them apart and soak the ball bearings and sometimes the entire thing in vinegar or some other deposit remover and reassemble/reinstall... I could fill it up and if left just hanging without use it would not drip, but as soon as it's actually used and the hard water starts to flow through it, forget about it, the scale will build inside the nipple and on the ball bearing and they will start dripping in short...

My horizontal nipples don't suffer this fate, or at least I have not experienced it as of yet...

As for small chicks and their ability to use horizontal nipples, I have had day old chicks figure them out and get them to work, never underestimate the 'pecking' ability of a day old chick, remember they just pecked their selves out of an egg with little to no room to move... With that said I always monitor the day old chicks and verify they are using the nipples if that is going to be their only water source, if I see any having troubles i'll put in an open water bowl with marbles for a few days... I also put in open water for the first day of shipped chicks just so they can more easily and rapidly re-hydrate themselves, then i switch over to the nipples...

 

[DreamsInPink]

I know this reply was old but since the thread was bumped...

My hard water will cause vertical nipples to start dripping within a few days time when in use, the only way to stop them from dripping after a few days is to take them apart and soak the ball bearings and sometimes the entire thing in vinegar or some other deposit remover and reassemble/reinstall... I could fill it up and if left just hanging without use it would not drip, but as soon as it's actually used and the hard water starts to flow through it, forget about it, the scale will build inside the nipple and on the ball bearing and they will start dripping in short...

My horizontal nipples don't suffer this fate, or at least I have not experienced it as of yet...

As for small chicks and their ability to use horizontal nipples, I have had day old chicks figure them out and get them to work, never underestimate the 'pecking' ability of a day old chick, remember they just pecked their selves out of an egg with little to no room to move... With that said I always monitor the day old chicks and verify they are using the nipples if that is going to be their only water source, if I see any having troubles i'll put in an open water bowl with marbles for a few days... I also put in open water for the first day of shipped chicks just so they can more easily and rapidly re-hydrate themselves, then i switch over to the nipples...

Great advice... as usual! I'm still fighting the losing battle of bedding and poo in the waterers... and of course my plucky teenagers roosting on the edge of their open top brooder and jumping on top of their water, knocking it off the blocks I sat it on to keep it clean. I will be so happy to finally get some of those nipples!

 

[aart]

Quote: Even just some detritus in the water can cause the VN metal valve/seat to stay open enough to create a wet mess.
The HN's have a flexible rubber valve/seat, and some spring power behind them instead of just gravity, so are more forgiving....
......plus they are are horizontal so less chance of detritus settling in the valve seat area.

Monitoring is important......I try to use clear containers and mark the water level so I can see if and how much they are using them.
Especially when switching over from an open waterer...some of them just don't get it and they are creatures of habit.

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

The horizontal nipples are far superior for resistance to freezing, I switched from the gravity ones because they were freezing even with 2 heat tapes on my pvc pipe system. I haven't had an issue with the horizontal one's freezing at all with the use of a heat tape, and I am in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  Look up our weather from December to February here and you'll be impressed. -30'C to -40'C. (-40'F) Rich is also a very helpful guy if you have any other questions.

This is an old quote, but wanted to ask if you're still about here if you'd mind sharing a pic of your winter water set up? Your review of the horizontal nipples is enough for me to go give them a go- I'm in northern Alberta. My own set up with the vert. nipples (with heat tape and foil insulation) never freezes but does drip. Couple years after your original post, are you still happy with the horizontal? Thanks!

 

[adacombe]

I don't have any pictures at the moment but I just have a 45 gallon plastic drum full of water with a bird bath heater for the winter. I have a small submersible utility pump that runs on a timer just to circulate the water through my pipes a couple minutes every hour. It pumps the water through a 1 1/2" pvc pipe with horizontal nipples installed in it along the wall where the chickens can reach it, then goes up the wall to the ceiling, and back to the barrel where it dumps into the top. I haven't had a freeze up yet.

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

I don't have any pictures at the moment but I just have a 45 gallon plastic drum full of water with a bird bath heater for the winter. I have a small submersible utility pump that runs on a timer just to circulate the water through my pipes a couple minutes every hour.  It pumps the water through a 1 1/2" pvc pipe with horizontal nipples installed in it along the wall where the chickens can reach it, then goes up the wall to the ceiling, and back to the barrel where it dumps into the top.  I haven't  had a freeze up yet.

Sounds like a slick set up!

 

[Birdinhand]

I've been rethinking my watering ways, particularly since getting a vertical water bucket/gravity feed. even if vertical has it's down sides the advantages of nipple waterers is so huge I am kind of resentful that they still sell all those other pieces of junk! I refill a lot less often and there is no nasty mess to clean out. I do not notice any leaking, in fact the one thing I did notice is that the nipples don't dispense any water if it gets down to just a few inches. after reading through parts of this old thread I now wonder if horizontal waterers are still a big advantage or if the newer vertical one's have solved most of the issues. anyone care to comment?