How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Nipples

I attended the Northeastern Poultry Congress yesterday Dr. Darre from UCONN gave a lecture on flock health. He highly recommends nipples as opposed to other sources of water.

1. notice how a chicken scoops up the water and then tilts their head to swallow. Chickens have a cleft pallet and do not have the 'suck' ability to suck up water.

2. Nipples are the perfect 'angle' for chickens as they have to tip their heads to drink from other sources, but the nipples naturally put the bird's heads in the natural drinking position.

3. Other sources of water can become contaminated with bacteria, dust, poop...etc

For heat purposes in winter, he recommends wrapping the water bucket in heat tape.

Donna, MA

On Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 8:30 AM, Lori Hart <ljkhart@gmail.com> wrote:

I changed the subject so easier to follow. We use nipples but only outside in the summer with a 5 gallon bucket. We still keep water inside all year but with the nipples the girls have another place to get water without having to go inside. Yes it seems one always drips but there is water available where ever they are. Lori. Indiana
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