Chicken Nipples

[baymule]

I haven't had them clog up. Dirt and poop doesn't get in the bucket and the nipples are up off the ground so the chickens can walk under the bucket. I fill it up about once a week in the winter time. In the summer they drink more, but I can monitor the water level in the white translucent bucket. I was dumb and made one with a dark blue bucket, can't see through it. If you are bothered by leaving for a few days, then put your old tray waterer in there along with the nipple bucket when you are gone. I love my nipple water buckets, I have two of them-one in the coop and one in the run.

 

[jomoncon]

bay, don't you worry about them clogging? if i'm around, that's fine - i'll catch it - but what about when you're gone a few days?

I've been using my nipple system for 3 years. Haven't had a clog yet & our city water is full of deposits. I usually check the nipples about once a month just to make sure they're not clogged. It automatically refills, so I don't have to add water.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

I bought a bag of 25 nipple waterers last year. I was going to convert my chickens. No such luck! They didn't figure it out! I don't know what the problem was, but they weren't interested at all. So...out came the bucket and I have a bag of 22 nipples sitting in my kitchen drawer.

Maybe I will try it again.

 

[canesisters]

SHF, would you be interested in getting rid of a few of them?????

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

SHF, would you be interested in getting rid of a few of them?????

Yesseribob! I'll pm you.

 

[baymule]

I bought a bag of 25 nipple waterers last year. I was going to convert my chickens. No such luck! They didn't figure it out! I don't know what the problem was, but they weren't interested at all. So...out came the bucket and I have a bag of 22 nipples sitting in my kitchen drawer.

Maybe I will try it again.

Catch your cluckers one by one and gently take their little heads in your hands and peck the nipples. It may take several times, then take their other waterer away after about a week. Watch closely to make sure they are drinking. You might catch them again and peck the nipple with their little beaks until they get the idea. Chickens love to peck anyway and pecking for water exercises their pecker.

 

[so lucky]

Mine got the hang of it when I jiggled the little metal thing. It makes a little rattle, and the chickens would look at what was rattling. I showed them that water comes out, the water on my finger, and they caught on pretty good. They were young when I switched over, tho. Maybe it's hard to teach an old chicken new tricks. :/
I've never had a problem with them clogging, but I have had a speck of something get in the mechanism and cause the water to drip itself dry.

 

[MontyJ]

Chicken nipples, chicken peckers...Bay, what is in that toenail polish???

 

[897tgigvib]

Bay's post is

Pretty cool! Something like this thread could be made into a really great article for backwoods home magazine. Bay's in charge of the project!

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

I will give it another shot this year. I did try...really I did. I took their little heads, made them peck at the silver part. I did this to our most adventurous and nosey ladies. Took their regular waterer out for 2 days. Went back...same amount of water in the bucket.

I'll give it another shot. The only thing I can think of is that the bucket is orange and the nipples are orange. Maybe there was not enough of a contrast for them to see. OR...maybe they are just not too bright!