What waterers do you recommend?

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Hello!
I only have 4 chickens and I have a big ol' 5 gallon waterer which I normally only fill to 2 or 3 gallons. I don't know if they are drinking it all in a day or if I am losing water some how but, I am looking at getting a new one. Any suggestions? I have seen some with "nipples" on them or some sort of thing. Do chicken naturally just "know" how to use those? I am want to make sure I am not wasting water. Water in my town must have gold in it cause it is expensive. All advice/suggestions welcome.

Thanks so much!

 

[mamajos]

We made 2 of these and love using them.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

We made 2 of these and love using them.

Awesome! What are the little red thingys? Did you just drill holes in the bucket and put those things in it? does water leak out from the holes you made?

 

[mamajos]

Horizontal nipples-instructions are with the package. They don’t leak, but you get tiny drips from the hens drinking—but I have one in the coop and one in the pen. I keep a pan under the one in the coop, just so everything stays dry as possible. You have to drill a hole in the lid, so air is able to come in as they drink.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Horizontal nipples-instructions are with the package. They don’t leak, but you get tiny drips from the hens drinking—but I have one in the coop and one in the pen. I keep a pan under the one in the coop, just so everything stays dry as possible. You have to drill a hole in the lid, so air is able to come in as they drink.

awesome! thank you for the info! I appreciate it.

 

[mamajos]

I showed them how to use it—by tapping the little “peg” in the nipple-they catch on very fast. You want to watch them to make sure they know how to use it so they are getting water. I Never showed out ducks how to use it-they have a regular bowl to drink out of. But I witnessed the ducks even using the horizontal nipples!
If freezing weather is an issue, a drop in water heater (bird bath heater) works great.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

I showed them how to use it—by tapping the little “peg” in the nipple-they catch on very fast. You want to watch them to make sure they know how to use it so they are getting water. I Never showed out ducks how to use it-they have a regular bowl to drink out of. But I witnessed the ducks even using the horizontal nipples!
If freezing weather is an issue, a drop in water heater (bird bath heater) works great.

Okay, thank you. I am in Texas. I does freeze here occasionally during the winter. I am going to see if I can talk my huband into make one. Have you had clean the nipples due to algae or anything? if so, are they hard to clean?

 

[mamajos]

Once in a while I spray them, along with the outside of the bucket. They stay pretty clean where I have them—if it’s mud around the waterer, I would guess they would need more rinsing, but I have wood chips by where they are located. You will find more info on here, if you search horizontal nipple waterers.

 

[mamajos]

I have no algae problems here but if you do, I hear putting some copper, like and old copper penny, or small bit of copper pipe in the bucket, hinders algae growth.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

I have no algae problems here but if you do, I hear putting some copper, like and old copper penny, or small bit of copper pipe in the bucket, hinders algae growth.

I have no algae problems here but if you do, I hear putting some copper, like and old copper penny, or small bit of copper pipe in the bucket, hinders algae growth.

interesting. I have not heard the penny but I have heard that apple cider vinegar might work. I will try the penny first. It is warm in TX even though we have had a mild summer. Algae likes to grow around here.