Nipple-style waterers for chicks?

[Obiwan Henobi]

Does anyone have experience training chicks to drink from a nipple water dispenser? I plan to add new birds to my existing adult flock who have been using a nipple waterer for some time (I trained them after they were grown). I would like the newbies to have been trained to use the same style drinker by the time they are old enough to join the adult flock. Is it even possible train baby chicks on a nipple waterer?

 

[Noraaaaa]

Hi! I sort of just showed them where it was and they figured it out on they own! Another batch of mine figured it out with no guidance. I trained mine when they went into the run (so about 3-4 months ish).

 

[BIG Feathers Farm]

Our Baby Chicks get always a regular dish with marbles & water + a regular chicken waternipple drinker. Chickens are so curious that they figure out very soon where it's for. Also, When one baby chick has figured it out, the rest will follow soon! I wouldn't be to worried about it. Give them both Chicken Waterers and they will be fine!

Here is a video about how I set up my Chick Brooder with first Regular Chicken Waterers, Feeders and Electrolytes for Baby Chicks. Setting Up The Baby Chicks Brooder

I hope it works out for you!
~ Boyd from BIG Feathers Farm

 

[Obiwan Henobi]

Hi! I sort of just showed them where it was and they figured it out on they own! Another batch of mine figured it out with no guidance. I trained mine when they went into the run (so about 3-4 months ish).

Thanks! My birds started out with the inverted jar/dish waterer. But after a pretty harsh first winter, I switched to the nipple style because it wasn't as prone to freezing. The girls figured it out pretty quickly. I'll probably start the new chicks with the jar/dish style and then begin training them for the alternate style a few weeks prior to moving them to the run.

 

[Obiwan Henobi]

Our Baby Chicks get always a regular dish with marbles & water + a regular chicken waternipple drinker. Chickens are so curious that they figure out very soon where it's for. Also, When one baby chick has figured it out, the rest will follow soon! I wouldn't be to worried about it. Give them both Chicken Waterers and they will be fine!

Here is a video about how I set up my Chick Brooder with first Regular Chicken Waterers, Feeders and Electrolytes for Baby Chicks. Setting Up The Baby Chicks Brooder

I hope it works out for you!
~ Boyd from BIG Feathers Farm

Thanks! My girls figured out the nipple style pretty quickly as adults. I'll probably start the new additions with the inverted jar/dish style and then begin training on the nipple style a few weeks prior to moving them in with the older flock.

 

[Toothpick]

The last time I raised chicks I gave them the old fashioned fountain style waterer. I raise my chicks in the coop with the hens. They have a separate caged off area. That way they can "grow up" together without getting killed by the larger hens. And when they are old enough/big enough I just open their separate pen and let them mingle.

The chicks get the old style waterer like this:




While the hens are drinking from a 5gal bucket with nipples that I made.

Similar to this, but I made my own:




So, when the chicks were old enough to mingle with the rest of the flock I simply turned them loose and they figure out the water from the hens. Never had an issue with it. I've done 3 batches of chicks this way.

I don't see why they can't learn how to use a nipple from day one though. Same way you push their beak in the water to make the know where it is you just push their beak on the water nipple.

When I first introduced my hens to the water nipples umpteen years ago this is what I did. Just grabbed one and shoved their beak in it until water came out. Presto...they were drinking from it like it was always there.

 

[BIG Feathers Farm]

Thanks! My birds started out with the inverted jar/dish waterer. But after a pretty harsh first winter, I switched to the nipple style because it wasn't as prone to freezing. The girls figured it out pretty quickly. I'll probably start the new chicks with the jar/dish style and then begin training them for the alternate style a few weeks prior to moving them to the run.

We also had a Cold Winter here in Tennessee! I've never seen it so cold for my chickens. My biggest issue is Freezing Chicken Waterers also, but I give em twice a day Fresh Drinking water anyway so they should be, seem to be doing good! Where are you located?

 

[Obiwan Henobi]

The last time I raised chicks I gave them the old fashioned fountain style waterer. I raise my chicks in the coop with the hens. They have a separate caged off area. That way they can "grow up" together without getting killed by the larger hens. And when they are old enough/big enough I just open their separate pen and let them mingle.

The chicks get the old style waterer like this:

View attachment 4035585


While the hens are drinking from a 5gal bucket with nipples that I made.

Similar to this, but I made my own:

View attachment 4035586


So, when the chicks were old enough to mingle with the rest of the flock I simply turned them loose and they figure out the water from the hens. Never had an issue with it. I've done 3 batches of chicks this way.

I don't see why they can't learn how to use a nipple from day one though. Same way you push their beak in the water to make the know where it is you just push their beak on the water nipple.

When I first introduced my hens to the water nipples umpteen years ago this is what I did. Just grabbed one and shoved their beak in it until water came out. Presto...they were drinking from it like it was always there.

That is exactly how I "trained" my adult birds to use the nipple style as well. Then just observed for awhile until I was sure that all them were using it consistently. I agree--I don't see why this wouldn't work with baby chicks as well.

 

[Obiwan Henobi]

We also had a Cold Winter here in Tennessee! I've never seen it so cold for my chickens. My biggest issue is Freezing Chicken Waterers also, but I give em twice a day Fresh Drinking water anyway so they should be, seem to be doing good! Where are you located?

We live in northwest Ohio. When temperatures are seasonal, winters are cold, but not terrible. However, we do have cold snaps (like this past week) when temperatures drop below zero with even colder wind chills. I've done a few things to winterize the coop and so far the girls have come through this past week without any signs of frost bite. When the temperatures get this low, I bring the waterer in at night (hens don't eat/drink at night anyway) then re-fill it with warm water and replace it in the morning. So far it hasn't frozen, even with the recent cold snap. The waterer sits within an enclosed run that I've wrapped with clear vinyl sheeting. It's probably the best thing I could have done to winterize the coop. On sunny days, it can be 15-20 degrees warmer than the outside air temperature. It's like a little sun room!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since you already have adults that will use it, the chicks will train themselves from watching the adults. Examples from 2 different batches:

Once I see the chicks using the nipples I remove the chick waterer, easy peasy.

Only thing I will caution is horizontal nipples do require some pressure to use, so chicks under 3 weeks or so may not be strong enough to use them.