Watering the birds.

[IndianaGreg]

I had a 5 gallon bucket for a watering with nipples inside my coop but they made such a mess that the floor was constantly wet. Now I have changed to cups but they don't seem to be working well. I changed because now that it is getting cold I was concerned about all of the water soaking up the floor bedding and freezing and maybe also my birds. I am at a stand still.....Any ideas? What does everyone else do?

 

[Splinter022]

What do you mean by it not working well, are they not drinking out of it? And what do you mean by cups, are they buckets?

 

[jthornton]

My vertical water is in the run with a dirt floor. I put some landscaping rocks around the base and filled it with pea gravel. No more muddy floor in the run.



JT

 

[IndianaGreg]

My vertical water is in the run with a dirt floor. I put some landscaping rocks around the base and filled it with pea gravel. No more muddy floor in the run.

View attachment 1204507

JT

Great idea for the outside, but I am in No. Indiana which prohibits me from having an outside water this time of year. I am referring to inside the coop and with the nipples they got plenty of water but also a lot dripped on the floor when they drank.

 

[IndianaGreg]

What do you mean by it not working well, are they not drinking out of it? And what do you mean by cups, are they buckets?

Cups are similar to the nipples but are on the side of the bucket and they drink from the cup. They depress a little yellow "tongue" in the cup to get the water. Less mess supposedly.

 

[imnukensc]

Horizontal nipples.

 

[RonP]

I would suggest horizontal nipples in a bucket, pizza pan, or large terracotta flower pot tray underneath.

If you place on top of a “cookie” tin heater (do not use a plastic tray), you will essentially have what works well for me…

Tray catches all drips, and birds readily drink the drips.

 

[chickens really]

I'm Old School and use Rubber livestock bowls up on Bricks.
Easy, peasy...

 

[GC-Raptor]

I'm old school. A 2 gallon fount on a heated base. . Worked down to -13F last winter. I pick it up by the lip of the trough and tilt to empty dirty water from it daily. Clean and refill weekly for 5 hens. GC