Water

[HogbackMtnChickns]

I tried a traditional chick waterer for the first two days. Yuck! I put it up on a 2 x 4 - still full of sand and poo. Day 2 I introduced the nipple waterer, and day 3 I took the traditional waterer out. I love the nipples! Water is clean all day long. No sand, no poo. Just clean water.

 

[Arielle]

I tried a traditional chick waterer for the first two days. Yuck! I put it up on a 2 x 4 - still full of sand and poo. Day 2 I introduced the nipple waterer, and day 3 I took the traditional waterer out. I love the nipples! Water is clean all day long. No sand, no poo. Just clean water.

Will you train mine???​

 

[BoltonChicken]

You can't "train" a chicken to do anything!

Their search for water is inbred and a survival trait. They automatically look for pools of water. If they find that, or a reasonable facsimile, they will go to
that first. If there are no pools of water (read standard waterer), they will start looking elsewhere for sources. They also automatically peck at anything
that attracts them, such as the red color of the nipples. As soon as they do that they find that if they peck the red thingy they'll get water. If one does it
they all will do it, and that is their training. If you have them on nipple waterers and then put a standard waterer in the coop, they will all return to using the
standard waterer, not because it is better, but because it is their first instinct.

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
Will you train mine???

I believe this is a joke...I think most animals train us!

 

[debid]

Quote:
What is it with the nipple hate? Do you know they don't peck and get a drip, peck and get a drip, peck and get a drip unless they're mostly playing? When they're really thirsty, they hold the nipple to the side and the water flows into their beak and down their throat. I'm pretty sure it's actually quicker to get water with a proper-height nipple than scooping from a pool and tipping the head back for each sip.

ha, no nipple hate here...its just I am new to chickens, 1 year now, and started out with the regular waterer...just watched one of mine dip their entire beak in and go back for more...I guess I think that is more "enjoyable" if that is possible...I am not against anything someone finds works for them...notice I said, "I have not used the nipples"....I am sure they are great..I live in a small area, with a limited shopping area, so I bought what was on hand, thus a traditional waterer.

I was speaking in generalities even though I quoted you. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

It just seems that there is a reaction to nipples that ranges from "I prefer a natural water source" to "I don't want my chicks to be dehydrated" and the negativity puzzles me. A mudpuddle is actually more natural than anything but nobody advocates that for their chickens' primary water source. Chickens will naturally drink drips from surfaces or scoop from a puddle. I don't think they particularly care which as long as the water is there when they need it. The idea that they get just barely enough water to scrape by is also popular so I just wanted to share that it's really more like a beer bong than peck-drip-peck-drip and no chicken is being deprived whichever method is used.

 

[JodyJo]

Quote:
ha, no nipple hate here...its just I am new to chickens, 1 year now, and started out with the regular waterer...just watched one of mine dip their entire beak in and go back for more...I guess I think that is more "enjoyable" if that is possible...I am not against anything someone finds works for them...notice I said, "I have not used the nipples"....I am sure they are great..I live in a small area, with a limited shopping area, so I bought what was on hand, thus a traditional waterer.

I was speaking in generalities even though I quoted you. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

It just seems that there is a reaction to nipples that ranges from "I prefer a natural water source" to "I don't want my chicks to be dehydrated" and the negativity puzzles me. A mudpuddle is actually more natural than anything but nobody advocates that for their chickens' primary water source. Chickens will naturally drink drips from surfaces or scoop from a puddle. I don't think they particularly care which as long as the water is there when they need it. The idea that they get just barely enough water to scrape by is also popular so I just wanted to share that it's really more like a beer bong than peck-drip-peck-drip and no chicken is being deprived whichever method is used.

LOL....you are right, I have several sources around my ranch, I clean and change it as I find it icky...I don't think they have a preference, as long as it is there..and maybe if I had started out with the nipples, or could have found them locally I would have used them and loved them....I do not condone dirty mud puddles!

 

[ChestnutRidge]

I also start with traditional waterers and then switch to a hamster/rabbit waterer. I keep both in the brooder a few days until I know they understand the new waterer. When they move outside, they are on nipples which they take to right away because they are used to the concept of pecking for their water.

My current batch of chicks ignored the rabbit waterer for a bit, but I saw the idea of putting a bit of peanut butter on the nipple here on BYC, and that did the trick.

ETA: This is when they just got the idea and were very excited about it. Later, they each just peck when thirsty. They all get enough and are happy and healthy.