Watering Cups VS. Nipples - new and older chicks

[SayChicken]

What type of nipple were you planning on using? There are horizontal nipples and vertical nipples. Horizontal ones can only be operated by older chicks. Vertical ones are easier to use. I've never used cups so can't tell you much about them except that dirt does get into them and they need regular cleaning.

To train my chickens to use nipples I removed all other water sources and put the new nipple waterer into the run. The chickens are attracted to the color red and the shiny metal. Chickens are very curious. They peck the nipple and run away. When nothing scary happens when they peck they get braver. They soon realize water comes out of the nipples. Once one figures that out, the rest follow suit. I've never trained chicks or grown chickens to use nipples. Has never taken longer than a couple hours for the chickens to be getting drinks from the nipples. Have used this non training technique for several batches of chicks and chickens and also for the waterers I gifted to my neighbors. Never had a chicken not figure it out.

I just started my pullets on the horizontal nipple waterer. They definitely come running when I push the nipple and water comes out but I find they they themselves are not pushing the nipple in far enough to get the water. They wiggle the nipple and get a little water but they are not getting satiated …if I put water in a bowl they drink like crazy. Also, because I’m hanging the waterer it tend to move away from them as they are playing with the nipple. Maybe I should not hang it so it stays firmly put when they tough it. Do you hang yours?

 

[jreardon1918]

I just started my pullets on the horizontal nipple waterer. They definitely come running when I push the nipple and water comes out but I find they they themselves are not pushing the nipple in far enough to get the water. They wiggle the nipple and get a little water but they are not getting satiated …if I put water in a bowl they drink like crazy. Also, because I’m hanging the waterer it tend to move away from them as they are playing with the nipple. Maybe I should not hang it so it stays firmly put when they tough it. Do you hang yours?

No, We set the bucket with HN on a cinder block. I recommend that you mark the water level and check back one day later. See how much is gone. It may surprise you how much they are getting. It is the only waterer the girls have used for years. Except for the first few weeks while in the brooder.

 

[SayChicken]

No, We set the bucket with HN on a cinder block. I recommend that you mark the water level and check back one day later. See how much is gone. It may surprise you how much they are getting. It is the only waterer the girls have used for years. Except for the first few weeks while in the brooder.

Good idea to mark it as I have no faith they are getting enough water and keep ending up giving them a bowl.

 

[CarlaCo]

Same here with them not getting it. I have to activate the silver thingy to make the tiny tiny tiny trough have water. They drink when I activate but even though they peck at it on their own no water comes out. It’s such a tiny amount even when I do it. How could that satisfy them?

 

[Stephine]

I tried the red cups for a while. They do get dirty but that's to be expected. The trouble is they have to be twisted upside down to get the dirt out. Then the nut gets loose and they drip. Guess I'm old fashioned and still using founts.

I use a waterer that comes with the cups. I do have to wipe them out/rotate them a ton once a day to clean them out. These don't have nuts on the back side, the 4 gallon container is threaded for them so I don't have to worry about them getting loose. I bought them at TSC.

no need to turn o er the cups or wipe - just direct the watering hose spray into the cups and they are clean again - super easy and nothing gets twisted loose…

 

[TX Chick Noob]

That works well if they are in a run or other area where you can use the hose on them easily. Mine have to be carried out to a hose, which I can’t do every day. That is why I bought waterers that last several days while keeping the water supply clean. But I do clean the cups daily, which sometimes means having to twist them.

 

[Stephine]

That works well if they are in a run or other area where you can use the hose on them easily. Mine have to be carried out to a hose, which I can’t do every day. That is why I bought waterers that last several days while keeping the water supply clean. But I do clean the cups daily, which sometimes means having to twist them.

You could fill the bucket less full and refill daily, then it’s easier to carry them to where you have the hose. Otherwise you could also just grab a small bucket or coffee tin with water and dumb that into the cups to rinse them out. Just thinking of alternatives, since the twisting them is not working…

 

[Dea 58]

What type of nipple were you planning on using? There are horizontal nipples and vertical nipples. Horizontal ones can only be operated by older chicks. Vertical ones are easier to use. I've never used cups so can't tell you much about them except that dirt does get into them and they need regular cleaning.

To train my chickens to use nipples I removed all other water sources and put the new nipple waterer into the run. The chickens are attracted to the color red and the shiny metal. Chickens are very curious. They peck the nipple and run away. When nothing scary happens when they peck they get braver. They soon realize water comes out of the nipples. Once one figures that out, the rest follow suit. I've never trained chicks or grown chickens to use nipples. Has never taken longer than a couple hours for the chickens to be getting drinks from the nipples. Have used this non training technique for several batches of chicks and chickens and also for the waterers I gifted to my neighbors. Never had a chicken not figure it out.

Thanks you completely helped me decide. I will be going with nipples

 

[wamtazlady]

Thanks you completely helped me decide. I will be going with nipples

You are welcome. Hope the nipples work as well for you as they do for me. This winter when it was -35 F outside I did have 2 of the 3 nipples freeze up in the morning. Some jiggling broke the ice and had the nipples working again. That was much colder than it normally is around here.

 

[Dea 58]

You are welcome. Hope the nipples work as well for you as they do for me. This winter when it was -35 F outside I did have 2 of the 3 nipples freeze up in the morning. Some jiggling broke the ice and had the nipples working again. That was much colder than it normally is around here.

Minus 35 is nasty cold. How do you heat your coop?