I bought a hamster water bottle for my new chicks

[mhaines4102]

They seem to like it. I haven't gotten rid of the old stand by waterer yet, but they seem to like to peck the stainless ball out of the way. I don't know if they are drinking all that much, but they think they are. Has anyone else ever tried this? Just like this

 

[Mahonri]

The BYC store sells a similar one.

I'm going to buy some for summer... that way I can freeze water in some of the bottles and it will last longer and be cooler for them in the summer.

 

[crazy hen quartet]

Hmm... interesting.

I trained my cat to drink out of one of those, didn't think about the clucks.. might help keep the water clean longer, they get so much stuff in their waterers now.

 

[GPN]

momma want to get one for our chicks in oct but I told her i would not work, guess I was wrong!!

 

[birdsofparadise]

Iʻm not quite sure it would work. Hamsters and small cage animals are actually licking the rotating ball bearing. If the ball is pushed in and held, it will leak profusely. If a chick just pecks at it, it would seem to just leak around its beak and not really provide any real refreshment. That may be why your chicks are pecking at it with such vigor, they may be "drinking" but still be thirsty.

 

[Trollkiller]

I wish I could remember the show this was on but the layers were in cages with a water bottle like this. Under the water bottle was a small cup. The chicken would peck the ball a couple of times and then drink what fell in the cup.

 

[Momo]

I've used the large size rabbit waterers (same style) for my chickens, until the winter freezup. I had one in the coop so they could have a drink in the morning without any mess, and a couple of them out in the run along with their regular waterer. They seemed to enjoy reaching up and pecking at them, and they definitely used them as a water source (and the water stays totally clean). However, I did read that commercial growers found the chickens drink less water with the nipple drinkers than they consume when they have open water to drink from.

 

[Andora]

My chicks have only rabbit waterers and they drink plenty and are all healthy. I think they get plenty of water when they peck their beak in, they just open their beaks and the water rolls into their mouths. It's especially good for crested birds because they don't get their heads all wet the way they do with the regular waterers. I also think it's a lot healthier because the water stays totally clean and the bedding is always dry.

 

[silkiechicken]

I've used rabbit bottles. I get the double ball type. Not the spring loaded ones and eventually they figure how to pres on it and not peck. However, I have had a few batches that just pick and drain the bottles all over the floor. The turkeys just had fun standing there picking and emptying the bottle on the floor within a few hours of filing it, so they just used a regular water. The baby silkies weren't strong enough to get water out, so they also used a regular water. I only use them for the first 6 weeks or so of life and move to plastic buckets as those are easier to fill and clean.

When they work though, and if you make sure they all get it, they are great!

 

[Patch of Heaven Farm]

I use that type for my chicks and even though I do keep a water bucket in the cage just in case they prefer the bottle. They never drink out of the bucket. I just end up dumping it and putting fresh water in it but it makes me feel better they have plenty since we are still having days in the upper 70's here. Plus they just seem to have so much fun with pecking the water bottle!!! Good Luck with the chicks!!!!