5 week olds and nipple waterer

[FeatherAndBloom]

My 5 week olds all know *how* to use their nipple waterer in their coop, I’ve seen them each do it successfully and teaching each other- about a week ago when I was sure, I removed their other small gravity waterer per the advice on BYC.

For the past week though I really am not seeing them use the nipples very often. I have a camera in the coop and check on them with the fluctuating spring temps etc. Only have seen them drink from it a few times in the past week.

Everyone is healthy and eating and pooping well. Crops feel good. They get a separate dish of chick grit and can peck at some weeds and insects that I chuck them every now and then.

Temps have been between 35 (nighttime low) and 70 (day time high). They get fermented starter mash AM and PM, which I know can reduce their water intake a little, but I wasn’t expecting this much. They also have 24/7 access to their dry starter mash. We have 13 5 week old chicks and have 1 x 3 gallon hanging nipple waterer with fresh water and 1 x 1 gallon nipple waterer with a chick elixir type drink (to help with the adjustment to their new coop). I haven’t seen the waters go down much at all! How often would you say I should be needing to refill for this many chicks? Is this a watch the bird situation? They’ll drink when they are thirsty?

Thanks in advance

 

[rosemarythyme]

They'll drink when thirsty. Assuming the nipple waterers have been the only source of water, they're obviously getting enough from there if they're active and eating well.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

They'll drink when thirsty. Assuming the nipple waterers have been the only source of water, they're obviously getting enough from there if they're active and eating well.

Thank you. I am working on developing my chicken intuition. Your response validates that sense that I got!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you. I am working on developing my chicken intuition. Your response validates that sense that I got!

The reality is IF they weren't getting water, they would've died from dehydration already. Macabre, but they wouldn't the week.

Only thing I would check is that water flows easily from the nipples, if the waterer doesn't have an obvious air hole, as sometimes people accidentally create vacuums by sealing a waterer too tight. Water can't flow out of a vacuum.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

The reality is IF they weren't getting water, they would've died from dehydration already. Macabre, but they wouldn't the week.

Only thing I would check is that water flows easily from the nipples, if the waterer doesn't have an obvious air hole, as sometimes people accidentally create vacuums by sealing a waterer too tight. Water can't flow out of a vacuum.

Good to check again thank you! And you’re totally right that they would have already had an issue by now if there was one