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

[drinkoj]

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

Purely humor based question. I have 3 myself.

 

[cssilkies]

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.

Thank you!