water nipples

[dottik]

i had made a 5 gal water pail with 4 nipples on it.chickens drink from it ,but my concern is that i put the old watering base in there and they drank from it for at least 10 min.it has been puzzling me as to why.do the nipples not give them enough water?they are all about a year old

 

[Bridger Davis]

When I made something like this, I mad two watering stations. They don't give very much water at once but it's fine if they have to drink for a little while. Mine did this two but they are just thirsty. Also, make sure that it has plenty of water in it at all times.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I wouldn't worry about it. My chickens did the same thing. If there's one thing I've discovered having chickens, it is that they don't handle change well. I removed all other water sources from the chicken run, and they magically started draining the bucket with the nipples on it. Keep at it, and they'll adapt.

 

[triplepurpose]

I've heard it takes some getting used to for them to figure out how to work them because its a totally different way to drink from the normal technique they use.

For me, if I have to "force" an animal to relearn a different way to do something as basic and natural a behavior as drinking water (something day old chicks normally learn on their own), I'm not interested--my goal is to accomodate their needs, not make an awkward puzzle for them out of something so basic...

And thus once they've learned it, i would imagine they would still prefer to drink the normal way if given the opportunity.

You also need to have plenty of nipples so they can all get enough access--you didn't mention how many are having to share those four nipples...?

 

[dottik]

there are 4 hens and 1 rooster.ive changed them over a month ago.and they got on it right away.maybe they actually stood there for 10 min drinking from the regular water drinker so i ws concerned they are not getting enough water from the nipples.

 

[triplepurpose]

Yeah, you'd think that would be plenty nipples then. But that would concern me too--obviously they aren't getting enough water then from just the nipples, for whatever reason...

 

[adventurechicken123]

I wouldn't worry about it. My chickens did the same thing. If there's one thing I've discovered having chickens, it is that they don't handle change well. I removed all other water sources from the chicken run, and they magically started draining the bucket with the nipples on it. Keep at it, and they'll adapt.

I may need to remove the other water sources. I got a waterer with nipples that I can plug in for winter. I thought I'd start getting them acclimated to that before it got cold. I held 3 or 4 of the hens and helped them drink from it when I first introduced it. I had to be gone for a few days, so I kept the other water sources in there too, since I wasn't going to be able to monitor them and work with them. The other water sources they seem to be emptying, but not the nipple waterer. Today one of the nipples looked wet, so I'm hoping it's because at least one of them is using it. Tomorrow I'll remove the other water sources and do a little more "training" and see what happens. Thanks for the advice!

 

[dottik]

I may need to remove the other water sources. I got a waterer with nipples that I can plug in for winter. I thought I'd start getting them acclimated to that before it got cold. I held 3 or 4 of the hens and helped them drink from it when I first introduced it. I had to be gone for a few days, so I kept the other water sources in there too, since I wasn't going to be able to monitor them and work with them. The other water sources they seem to be emptying, but not the nipple waterer. Today one of the nipples looked wet, so I'm hoping it's because at least one of them is using it. Tomorrow I'll remove the other water sources and do a little more "training" and see what happens. Thanks for the advice!

after a few days of using the nipples.put the regular water back in the cage and watch and see if they swarm to it and drink alot.

 

[dottik]

i wanted to thank everyone for the replies.