How do you teach chicks to drink from cup waterers?

[logefarm]

Hi all,
Our 6-7 week old silkies will happily drink from their new cup waterers, but ONLY if I've hit the lever to fill the cups. They can't figure out how to activate them on their own.
Any tips?

 

[silkiecuddles]

I've never heard of, seen, or used cup waterers. Silkies aren't the brightest of chicken breeds, so maybe after you consistently showing them, they'll get the hang of it?

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi! I switched to nipple waterers, not cups though. I removed all other water sources but monitored. Once they got thirsty, they figured out. It took several hours. Once one got the hang of it, the rest wanted in on the game. I would think it would be the same for cups. Could you place some tiny broccoli etc to encourage pecking? I hope someone with silkies and cup waterers replies. Best of luck!

 

[logefarm]

I learned about them on BYC, thought they seemed like a great option...
Here's an example-
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODAwWDgwMA==/z/mpsAAOSwymxVJtcx/$_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F

I'll keep trying! Any suggestions are so helpful, thanks!

 

[silkiecuddles]

My silkies learned very quickly to drink from rabbit water bottles. Is the cup similar??

@Mutt Farm, x2 on the removing but monitoring.

 

[RoyalRooster]

Not sure what type of cup you have. Some need the float/ tongue to be pushed for water to be activated, but others just refill when the water supply goes down, so valve operated (that's what we use).

We have actually found that the chickens take to these straight away, with no training really necessary. If you have a particularly clueless chicken, just take them to the drinker and dip their beak it the water, and they should get the idea pretty quickly.

 

[chuot]

Not sure what type of cup you have. Some need the float/ tongue to be pushed for water to be activated, but others just refill when the water supply goes down, so valve operated (that's what we use).

We have actually found that the chickens take to these straight away, with no training really necessary. If you have a particularly clueless chicken, just take them to the drinker and dip their beak it the water, and they should get the idea pretty quickly. 

Would you please tell me where I could find the valve operated ones? Thanks.

 

[RoyalRooster]

Not sure where you're located, but we sell these from our Australian Royal Rooster website, http://www.royalrooster.com.au/drinkers-feeders/spare-parts/drinker-cups.html

Freight is pretty cheap internationally, so you'd be looking at around $7 postage for up to about 20 cups if you were not based in Australia (similar cost to post domestically actually!).

Hope this helps.

 

[chuot]

Not sure where you're located, but we sell these from our Australian Royal Rooster website, http://www.royalrooster.com.au/drinkers-feeders/spare-parts/drinker-cups.html

Freight is pretty cheap internationally, so you'd be looking at around $7 postage for up to about 20 cups if you were not based in Australia (similar cost to post domestically actually!).

Hope this helps.

Yes, this is exactly what i need. thanks

 

[bigt447]

They will never fill the float/tongue type completely up, but mine do push against yellow tongue to get enough water in bottom to drink. I also have nipples alternating between the cups, with mine using the cups more often. I have 4 nipples & 3 cups on a 5ft pipe inside pen connected to a 5 gallon bucket outside the pen.