Watch Chickens with Horizontal Nipples - Leave extra water source in case

[rosemarythyme]

Very glad you caught it in time and were able to save your bird!

I had one chicken that took several weeks to get the hang of horizontal nipples (crossbeak, aiming is not her strong suit) so I've always advocated giving each individual bird attention when training to nipples. That might be impossible with a very large flock, but with 9 birds, it's much more doable to check and track each one to make sure they're able to toggle and drink properly.

 

[Sally PB]

I really wanted to use a horizontal nipple waterer. My three pullets caught on right away. My cockerel seems to have poor eye-beak coordination, and he just couldn't figure it out. I discovered he had a problem and was dehydrated. I brought in an open waterer, and he went right over and tanked up. Thank goodness, like your bird, he was ok.

I only gave it one day. Aart recommended that I try again (when the weather warms) and give it several days. Just be sure that I take in an open waterer so that he can tank up before he goes to roost. One day isn't long enough for every bird to learn.

I would really like to use the HN. Less mess in the water, less dripping. So I'll try again in the spring.

 

[Stephanie8806]

Chickens are so interesting. There’s always one that seems to constantly surprise you! I switched my chickens to horizontal nipples for at about 7 months old and all 9 took to them just fine. The weird thing, is that after 3 weeks, maybe 2 gallons were gone from the 7 gallons we put in! They all seemed to be fine but I was scared try at they didn’t like the nipples or something... so I started hauling water to their two quart bowl every morning. The most they’ve ever gone through in a day is maybe 3/4 of a quart... that’s like a little over an ounce per chicken per day! Nearly 4 months later, their water intake is the same if not less and they’re all fine. I guess they prefer snow... either that, or I mistakenly purchased a rare strain of feather camel.

I hope your Esme makes a full recovery and figures out the water situation(if that was the problem). Great job paying attention!

 

[FloorCandy]

Chickens are so interesting. There’s always one that seems to constantly surprise you! I switched my chickens to horizontal nipples for at about 7 months old and all 9 took to them just fine. The weird thing, is that after 3 weeks, maybe 2 gallons were gone from the 7 gallons we put in! They all seemed to be fine but I was scared try at they didn’t like the nipples or something... so I started hauling water to their two quart bowl every morning. The most they’ve ever gone through in a day is maybe 3/4 of a quart... that’s like a little over an ounce per chicken per day! Nearly 4 months later, their water intake is the same if not less and they’re all fine. I guess they prefer snow... either that, or I mistakenly purchased a rare strain of feather camel.

I hope your Esme makes a full recovery and figures out the water situation(if that was the problem). Great job paying attention!

My quail are choosing snow to the warmed up water i bring out for them, they’ll lay next to the warm waterer, but walk over and eat snow, go figure.

 

[Ryan A]

uh, ok

 

[Stephanie8806]

My quail are choosing snow to the warmed up water i bring out for them, they’ll lay next to the warm waterer, but walk over and eat snow, go figure.

I thought maybe they didn’t like the warm water, so I started bringing cold water. They sip a little, but that’s it. Not any more than the warm. Then they head out to free range and gobble up snow all day.

And they don’t have a problem with our water. They gulp it down like crazy when it’s dry and warm, aka no snow! They have wild bird souls, but family bird hearts

 

[Ryan A]

hey, u already chirpin' like me and u only joined in December--I joined in July and I am chirping, wth

 

[Stephanie8806]

hey, u already chirpin' like me and u only joined in December--I joined in July and I am chirping, wth

Has nothing to do with how long you’ve been a member. Has to do with him many interactions/ reactions you have(aka liked posts)

 

[Ryan A]

Has nothing to do with how long you’ve been a member. Has to do with him many interactions/ reactions you have(aka liked posts)

lol, I just posted a thread asking that. Thank you so much--I have always wanted to know that!

 

[Ryan A]

Has nothing to do with how long you’ve been a member. Has to do with him many interactions/ reactions you have(aka liked posts)

Since u seem to know these things, what is after chirping and how many reactions do u have to receive for it to change?