Chicken drinking nipples are a fairly recent innovation in the backyard poultry world although the commercial industry has been using them for several years.
In fact, regular drinkers have not been used in the commercial poultry field for years.
One of the biggest benefits of drinking nipples is the fact that it keeps the water fresh and clean.
In this article we will explain how to set them up, how to train your chickens to use them, common problems with them and much more…

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What Are Chicken Water Nipples?

The flow-rate of water from the valve can be adjusted by twisting the valve cap clockwise to decrease flow or counter-clockwise to increase the flow-rate. This model has a standard 1/8'mpt connection for threading into rigid PVC pipe lines.

Chicken nipples are a handy little device designed to give water to chickens with minimal mess.
They are small devices that look a bit like a spark plug. They screw into a bucket or similar water holder. When pecked at, the device releases a few drops of water to the chicken.
There are two styles available; side mount and under mount (more on this later).
It is designed to cut down on wasted water that usually dampens bedding or makes puddles on the floor. This is a great improvement over regular drinkers which slop water all over the place when bumped or jostled by the birds.
Damp bedding as you know, is a lovely environment for bacteria to grow in, so anything that cuts down the potential for bacterial growth is an improvement.

Types of Nipple

Chicken Nipples (10 Pack)

• Keep your chickens water supply clean and fresh
• Takes less than 5 minutes to install
• 10 pack is suitable for up to 40 chickens

When it comes to chicken nipples you have a few different types to choose from. Here’s a brief rundown on the two types most commonly used:

• Horizontal: These fix into the side of the bucket/dispenser you have chosen. Once you have drilled the hole you simply push it in to the hole. These are spring loaded so the bird has to peck at it to release the water. These seem to be the most efficient.
• Vertical: Designed to fit under a container. These items work on the gravity principle, when the chicken moves the lever, water comes out.

These types come as ‘push in’ or ‘screw in’ fittings. The screw in types are further divided into those that are cleanable and those that aren’t.
Those that can be opened are simple in design and easy to clean – well worth the few extra pennies.

What Are The Benefits of Using Them?

There are several benefits to using nipples:

• Reduces waste: The nipple will dispense a small amount of water each time it is pecked. There should be no dripping from the valve and no leakage from your container.
• Keeps water clean: You can use a covered pail for a container so this will keep dust, dander and bedding out of the water. It also prevents the growth of mosquito larvae in the water.
• Reduces potential for bacterial growth: Bacteria love warm, damp environments to grow in. The nipple does not allow water to escape so damp bedding is eliminated.
• Easy to use: Once you have trained your chickens how to use it, it is very simple for them to use.

How to Set Them Up

Horizontal Nipple Chicken Waterer

• The best style of drinker to keep your water clean
• This is the complete system, no assembly needed
• Built from 100% BPA free plastic

The tools and equipment you will need are:

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• Marking Pen (to mark where the holes are going to be)
• Hand Drill and Drill Bit (to drill the hole)
• Silicone Caulk (used to seal the outside area, but not until you are sure of the device working)
• Pliers (to tighten up the nipples snugly to the bucket)

A nice little video that shows how to set-up side mount nipples can be found here.
It really is that straight forward. Standing the drinker on a platform for the birds to drink from is a great idea, especially since some of the bucket handles can be flimsy.
An under mount bucket has to be hung from something or rested on a suitably high platform.
Once you have got your drinker in place, you will need to troubleshoot any leaks you may have.
Generally this is a quick fix by tightening up the nipple to the container. If the water appears to leak from the lever this could be dirt in the tube – you will need to disassemble or keeping moving the lever to remove the dirt.
If it is leaking from around the unit where it screws into the bucket, you can try tightening the unit and if that doesn’t work, you will need to remove the nipple unit, dry thoroughly and place some Teflon tapes around the threads before screwing into the bucket.
If none of these suggestions work the unit may be defective so try another unit.

Training Chickens to Use a Water Nipple

This is probably the most difficult part! If you have young birds they are likely to take to the new system quickly, the older ladies will be slower to embrace changes.
If you can demonstrate to them how it works and perhaps have some of your more amenable girls try it with your help you are off to a good start.
It should not take too long before your girls are inquisitive enough to peck at the nipples, especially if you have removed all other drinkers from the area. The best time of year to try this is in the cooler weather – you don’t want them all gasping for water while they get the hang of using the new system.
It’s always a good idea to watch them for a while and make sure they are getting accustomed to the new style.
Hens that are partially sighted or blind may have some difficulty changing over to this type of system. The nipple requires some precision placement of the beak to be able to access the water.
I would recommend not changing over to a new system for those impaired hens unless you are willing to spend a lot of time training them.

Common Problems

Most of the problems that occur have to do with leakage. It is very important to follow the installation instruction carefully. Make sure the hole you drill is the right size.
When handling and placing the nipple be careful not to damage the piece while inserting it.
They come with a silicone washer on the screw-in side to ensure a tight compression fit. If your hole is too big, it won’t function well at all. Also ensure the unit sits up straight in the hole.
If the unit is leaking around the nipple itself, try taking it apart and cleaning it out. The outlet is tiny so a very small piece of dirt can cause a blockage to the ball.
You can buy chicken nipples almost anywhere but please be cautious about buying cheap, ‘knock offs’ – you get what you pay for.

Alternatives to Chicken Water Nipples

Apart from the old fashioned drinker that is in common use, there are a few different types of drinkers out there.

Galvanized Double Wall Founts

• Made from galvanized steel making it very durable and rust proof
• Heavy Duty making it much harder to flip over
• Steel construction making it compatible with heater bases

Automatic Chicken Drinker Cups

• Its design means it seldom needs cleaning and keeps the water clean for long periods of time
• Can be fitted both on the side and at the bottom of a drinker
• Very simply DIY installation

Large Top Fill Waterer

• Its top fill design and float makes it very easy to keep clean
• Can be used both indoor and outdoor
• Made from 100% BPA free plastic

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use apple cider vinegar in the water?
No, the nipples have metal parts and the ACV will corrode them.
How long can the water stand in the drinker?
The water should be changed at least every 3-4 days.
Can I use them in winter?
That will depend on your setup. If the water or the nipples become cold enough, they will freeze up. If you are able to keep the entire system above 32-34F, they should be ok.
I like to put garlic in the water, can I do that?
No, there should be no additives to the water unless totally soluble. The debris from the garlic may block the nipple.
Is it suitable for baby chicks?
Yes. The only nipples not suitable for chicks are the side-mount horizontal ones. They are spring activated so a chick would not be strong enough to operate it.

Summary

2 Gallon Chicken Waterer with Horizontal Side Mount Poultry Nipples

• This chicken waterer comes already set up with the nipples installed
• 2 gallon capacity suitable for up to 8 hens
• Made from BPA free plastic making it safe for your hens

Chicken nipple waterers can be a great labor saving device for you and a source of clean fresh water for your birds.
Remember though, its labor saving, not a ticket to bad practice!
The point being, you still need to keep the water fresh by replacing it at least every other day.
If they work as well as folks say they do, the savings on bedding alone would be significant and very welcome in a brooder with messy chicks.
The only real drawback is the inability to use garlic and apple cider vinegar with them.
Do you have chicken nipples in your coop? Let us know your experience with them in the comments section below…

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