Has anyone ever used a waterer like this?

We're moving to a paddock shift system with a small mobile coop this year, using electronet fencing. We're super excited about the change, and on the heels of that decision, I want a better watering system. Something easy to move, independent of a structure, and something that doesn't get full of freaking straw/dirt/grass/whatever the hell all the time. We've been using traditional waterers, and as we prepare for chicks to arrive, I want to try something else.

So what do you all suggest, for either or both tractored mature chickens and brooding chicks?

We tried one of those, with the chicken nipple on the bottom. It works well for the chickens that can figure out how to use it. Training them is a bit of a pain, but once they know how it works fine.

You do need to make sure stuff doesn't get inside the bucket, like leaves dropping from nearby trees. Also important to make sure they don't perch on it and thus get feathers or poop in it. The one pictured looks like they'd love to perch on it.

Ah, good point. I suppose I would just need to keep the lid on top of the bucket. I don't know, I'm just not crazy about anything that requires a learning curve with them, I don't want to have to worry about them not figuring it out and getting dehydrated. Plus if and when it freezes, I imagine it's a real pain to get things going again. We get crazy temp swings here in the mountains.

Destiny Hagest wrote:Plus if and when it freezes, I imagine it's a real pain to get things going again. We get crazy temp swings here in the mountains.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that part. We tried putting a heating element in it, which helped some. I was refilling it with a watering can, which I would fill up with hot water, a few times/day.

I know it's a delayed response but on the chance someone else is wondering about training as well I had NO trouble convincing my Cornish Cross adults to try it. I just tapped a nipple to make it drip until she came over to see what I was doing. One peck and they were obsessed! I only had to teach my "boss" hen and the rest fell right in line.

Also, if anyone is looking for a non portable and fabulous for cold winter version try Backyard Chickens. I made the cooler, pvc, nipple waterer and it has been spectacular! It can be heated and the water is circulated over winter to keep the water thawed..

Grace Gierucki wrote:Also, if anyone is looking for a non portable and fabulous for cold winter version try Backyard Chickens. I made the cooler, pvc, nipple waterer and it has been spectacular! It can be heated and the water is circulated over winter to keep the water thawed..

Do you have a link?

I am so sorry. I thought I posted this earlier but I guess I just thought about it! http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/summer-winter-chicken-nipple-waterer

As an update I let my 5 week chicks into the big pen today and they just rushed the nipples and started pecking away. Pushing each other right off the hay bales used to make them tall enough, it was pretty hilarious.