Hi everyone, I’d love your thoughts on poultry water nipple VS. cups. We have five 7 week old chicks that recently moved out to their new coop/run. We also have five 1 week old chicks that are still in their brooder for now. We’re about to start setting up their food/water in the run this week and we’re not sure if we should get nipples or cups. Any suggestions based on your experiences? I’ve read that cups can get murky but the nipples could be difficult to train chicks on and not suggested to do during the summer, which is probably when the younger chicks will be introduced to the coop/run.
I started using horizontal nipples for my flock last summer. The day that I put the new watering system out, the chickens quickly figured out how it works. I think at 7 weeks they would be able to use either of these alternative watering methods. It isn't that difficult to push the nipple to let the water out, their small beaks could do it. Regarding the newer batch of chicks, I think by the summertime, they will be grown enough to use the nipples. I wouldn't worry about them not using the nipples. Just observe them and watch them use it.
I haven't used the watering cups. What I have right now is horizontal nipples attached to a five-gallon bucket. I love this watering method so much. The inside of the bucket almost never gets grimy and gross. The water always seems so fresh. I have heard watering cups do get dirtier and they need to be cleaned sometimes. Horizontal nipples occasionally need a rinse to get the mud off of them and other junk the chickens get on there.
One tip. If you are using horizontal nipples in the coop, you're going to want to purchase a plant saucer for it. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/HC-Companies...9802&sprefix=plant+basin],aps,124&sr=8-5&th=1
At the moment I don't have a nipple waterer in the coop, the one I use is outside. In the coop, they just have a self-filling waterer. I have yet to purchase a saucer for myself but I have asked around on here and that's what was suggested that I get. When the chickens peck at the nipples, they aren't able to drink all of the water. A very small bit will drip. This is what the saucer is for. My coop floor was getting wet when I had my nipple waterer in there. You'll also want to lay 2 bricks in this saucer so that the waterer is higher than the saucer's edge.
If and when you decide to use nipples, I have a few tips for you to train your flock to use them. As a poster already suggested, the red and metal of the nipples will attract the chickens to it. They are also very curious about new things. First, just try pushing the metal part of the nipple in and let some water out with your chickens right next to you. They will probably notice the water and become even more curious. If they don't immediately start pecking at them after this (which they probably won't), try sprinkling scratch on them. My birds pecked at this scratch and discovered that water comes out. This is all that I had to do to get my chickens to use the nipples. I have read that you can smear peanut butter on the nipples to get them to try it out and you can also push the nipple with the chicken's beak, similar to what you do when you first get chicks. Your chickens will quickly all figure out what the nipples are and your days of slimy grimy straw-filled waterers will be over.
