Water Nipples Question

[drstratton]

Good morning! I'm getting ready to set up a new chick brooder and was looking at ideas on a brooder thread I found here. He used water nipples in a gravity fed system. My question is, how hard is it to train new babies to use them! I would also love it if anyone has any other suggestions. This is a great site! Thank you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...post-pics-of-your-brooders.6233/post-15313401

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I only recently started using nipple water for my flock, and have no experience with starting chicks on them, but all it took for my flock was putting them in front of the waterer and tapping the nipple a few times to water came out. Good luck!

 

[drstratton]

I only recently started using nipple water for my flock, and have no experience with starting chicks on them, but all it took for my flock was putting them in front of the waterer and tapping the nipple a few times to water came out. Good luck!

Thank you! I'm hoping that works, I'm hoping to avoid an open water container!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Thank you! I'm hoping that works, I'm hoping to avoid an open water container!

I’ve also heard that you can use a laser pointer and shine it on the nipple so the chick will peck it and discover the water

 

[drstratton]

I’ve also heard that you can use a laser pointer and shine it on the nipple so the chick will peck it and discover the water

That's funny! I would have never thought of doing that! If the other fails, it would be worth a shot! Thank you!!!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

No problem, good luck!!

 

[sniper338]

I never put chicks on nipplea before. I use a simple chick waterer from TSC for the first two weeks. My thinking is they need easy acces to water, not have to think about how to get it. Chicks got enough going on their first few weeks just to survive. I wouldnt want dehydration simply because they are too young to figure it out.

Easiest way ive found once birds are older is to tap the water nipple, let it drip and teach them using their natural curiosity.

 

[drstratton]

I never put chicks on nipplea before. I use a simple chick waterer from TSC for the first two weeks. My thinking is they need easy acces to water, not have to think about how to get it. Chicks got enough going on their first few weeks just to survive. I wouldnt want dehydration simply because they are too young to figure it out.

Easiest way ive found once birds are older is to tap the water nipple, let it drip and teach them using their natural curiosity.

I plan on having a chick water container to start with, but I'm hoping to introduce the nipples after they have settled in! I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize their well being! I've had chickens on and off for probably 25 years, but I've never used water nipples. I saw someone had them in their brooder setup and wanted to know if anyone here had experience using them with chicks, before I tried it. At this point I think I will have both types available and if they learn to use the nipples only then would I remove the water bottle! Thanks so much for your advice!

 

[aart]

I have horizontal nipples in the brooder from the get go......but also an open waterer there all the time until about 2 weeks when I start removing it for much of the day.
By then a few have figured out the nipples and others follow suit.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Based on everything I've read chicks can be started on vertical nipples form day 1, and that's what hatcheries do. You should introduce the chicks to the nipples so they know that's where water comes from.