Chickens don't understand drinker cups

[jessdaiger]

My chickens are using the water cups when I refill them but they do not understand how to refill them by pushing down on the yellow tab. Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know of any other water drinker that has a float system and will automatically refill?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

How old are the chickens? The water cups don't fill all of the way up when the chickens use them. They just peck at the yellow thing and then they get a little water from it. When we do it, it will fill all the way up because we hold it down. That is not how chickens uses it.
Are you sure they haven't figured it out?

 

[jessdaiger]

Hey @Soon2BChixMom Yeah i am sure they don't understand. I fill it up and show them. Once it is full they will drink out of it but they do not understand the yellow thing...

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I recently started using them. I have 5 9-10 week old chicken. Two I'm pretty sure are figuring it out. Someone told me it could take a few weeks for aome of them.
I check on the several times a day and they don't seem to be dehydrating so I think they are getting something from it between the times I fill it. It's been in the nineties here.

 

[snow5164]

Have you picked them up and put their beaks in the water? I’ve used the nipple water bucket and didn’t like it, they drank for ever to fill up. We switched to regular waterer raised up so it stays clean ... much better . Also my bucket of water got mouldy fast in hot weather

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I watched mine use it. They are old hens and figured it out. I am sure new ones can figure it out.
@jessdaiger - do you have other water sources out there? If so, they wouldn't be even trying to figure out the cups.
If they know water comes from the cups, and there isnt any, they will peck to see what is going on. That is how tthey get it to work.

 

[jessdaiger]

Thanks @FeatherstoneFrm I will keep a watch on them and see if they finally figure it out I have their old waterer out right now b/c we are having a hot spell in the Seattle area but once it isn't high 70's I'll see if they can do w/ just the water drinker cups.

 

[jessdaiger]

Have you picked them up and put their beaks in the water? I’ve used the nipple water bucket and didn’t like it, they drank for ever to fill up. We switched to regular waterer raised up so it stays clean ... much better . Also my bucket of water got mouldy fast in hot weather

OH thats not bad. yeah i didn't want to do a nipple drinker b/c I'm not sure that htey would EVER figure that out. haha

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Thanks @FeatherstoneFrm I will keep a watch on them and see if they finally figure it out I have their old waterer out right now b/c we are having a hot spell in the Seattle area but once it isn't high 70's I'll see if they can do w/ just the water drinker cups.

See the thing is they won't use the cups (something new) if they have their other waterer. But, I understand if there is a hot spell, probably not the best time to switch over.