what type of waterer "nipple" or "trough"?

[cssilkies]

I have known people who used both and said the "trough" waterer got dirty easily and the "nipple" waterer was hard to teach the chickens that it was their source of water. Which would you recommend I use for my new waterer?

 

[wamtazlady]

I've been using horizontal nipples for about 5 years now. I have never had to teach a chicken to use them. I put the waterer in the run and walk away. Have never had any trouble with them learning to use it as long as there isn't a bowl of water available. Made waterers for 2 neighbors as gifts. They also put the new waterers in with the birds and walked away.

Once I had pullets I picked up in the evening. They had been drinking from a dog dish. When I checked on them first thing in the morning they were all getting drinks from the nipples. This summer I let my new batch of pullets drink from a dog dish because I was lazy. I needed to get a new water container as my old one was brittle after a few years of freezing and thawing. Finally got the container, drilled the holes, and put the waterer in the run in October. They did not die so they must have figured it out.

Chickens are curious critters. They are also attracted to the color red and to shiny things. When you put that waterer in with them they are immediately attracted to the red and the shiny metal nipple. They will peck it and run away to make sure it is safe. In a short time they realize when they peck they get water. If there is no other water available they will learn to use it quickly. Only takes one chicken out of a flock to figure it out. Chickens are also copy cats. One learns something and the others learn by watching. I have never had it take longer than a couple hours for all the birds to be using the nipples.

My waterer this year is a 13 gallon clear tote with lid, 4 horizontal nipples, and a stock tank deicer that is rated for use in plastic. This keeps my 5 chickens in water for 3 weeks. Being clear it is easy to see when it needs filled which I can do with a hose and faucet in the well house. So far we're having a rather warm winter and it is only gotten down to 6 degrees F. Other winters it has gotten down into the -20s F and my waterer has stayed thawed.

 

[cssilkies]

wow ok thank you so much!

 

[kerbotx]

Nipple water systems are the best for keeping water clean - but there are different kinds. Vertical nipples are easier to manipulate, both for baby chicks & adult birds, simply because the pin lever is smaller & more flexible. Super easy to get baby chicks to use! Horizontal nipples are another option, I think they are less likely to freeze in winter, but the pin is larger, they have to put more effort into it. And then some people like cup systems, where there's a pin inside a little cup that catches the drips.

 

[cssilkies]

can any age chick use them?

 

[drinkoj]

can any age chick use them?

I'd wait till about week 3 or 4 before introducing them. Pretty much just have to take their little beaks and tap it on the nipple to get water out and they do the rest.

 

[cssilkies]

ok!

 

[aart]

Horizontal nipples are best in cold climates, more effective for heating.

Not all birds get it right away.
Tiny chicks usually can't push the trigger well enough.
I have a HN and an open waterer in the brooder from day one.
At about 2 weeks I take out the open waterer during the day.

I've had all age birds either pick it right up within an hour...and others that take weeks to really figure it out.

Here's my thoughts on 'nipple training'.

First, it's good to know how much water your flock consumes 'normally', I top off water every morning and have marks on the waterers so I know about how much they drink.
Found they drank just as much from the nipples as they did from the open waterer.

-Do not train to nipples during extreme temps when dehydration is more of a risk.

-Show them how with your finger(tho that might just train them to wait for your finger),
and/or manually grab them and push their head/beak onto the trigger(easier with chicks than adults).

-No other water source, best to 'train' during mild weather when dehydration is less of an immediate health risk. I do provide an open waterer late in day to make sure they don't go to roost dehydrated, especially young chicks.

It can take days or weeks to get them fully switched over, just takes observation, consistency, and patience.

 

[drinkoj]

Horizontal nipples are best in cold climates, more effective for heating.

Not all birds get it right away.
Tiny chicks usually can't push the trigger well enough.
I have a HN and an open waterer in the brooder from day one.
At about 2 weeks I take out the open waterer during the day.

I've had all age birds either pick it right up within an hour...and others that take weeks to really figure it out.

Here's my thoughts on 'nipple training'.

First, it's good to know how much water your flock consumes 'normally', I top off water every morning and have marks on the waterers so I know about how much they drink.
Found they drank just as much from the nipples as they did from the open waterer.

-Do not train to nipples during extreme temps when dehydration is more of a risk.

-Show them how with your finger(tho that might just train them to wait for your finger),
and/or manually grab them and push their head/beak onto the trigger(easier with chicks than adults).

-No other water source, best to 'train' during mild weather when dehydration is less of an immediate health risk. I do provide an open waterer late in day to make sure they don't go to roost dehydrated, especially young chicks.

It can take days or weeks to get them fully switched over, just takes observation, consistency, and patience.

How many cut and paste documents do you have to cover the questions you see asked repeatedly? Asking for a friend.

 

[aart]

How many cut and paste documents do you have to cover the questions you see asked repeatedly?

Lots of notes to cut and paste....I'm a slow typist.
Why, is that a problem?