Chicks very naturally take to nipple drinkers, so training isn't an issue- my challenge has always been in finding up a system for holding the drinker inside the brooder, particularly when using a soft-sided brooder such as a puppy playpen or cardboard box. The solution? A tomato cage! Read on for directions to build your own!
Puppy playpen brooder in action! (playpen available at this link)

 

Newly hatched chicks naturally learn to use poultry nipple drinkers

The disadvantages of traditional chick drinkers are that chicks invariably foul the water with poop and litter, which is a recipe for illness and disease.

 

Traditional chick drinkers invariably are fouled with litter and poop

The disadvantages of traditional chick drinkers are that chicks invariably foul the water with poop and litter, which is a recipe for illness and disease. Poultry veterinarian, Dr. Mike Petrik shares his thoughts on the use of poultry nipple drinkers: “NOBODY who is raising chickens professionally has used cups, bell drinkers or troughs in the past 25 years…nipples have been used successfully on literally billions of chickens. The professional farmers across North America have made nipple drinkers the standard for all chickens. In fact, as a vet, I recommend that everyone raising hens change from open water sources to nipple drinkers….the hens get plenty of water, and the disease reduction is so striking that there is no doubt which is better.

The advantage of a nipple system is that it is quite resistant to bacterial growth, unlike the septic soup that most open waterers quickly become. I cannot recommend strongly enough that backyard chicken keepers consider using a nipple watering system for their hens…” Dr. Mike Petrik, DVM, MSc.aka: The Chicken Vet

Poultry veterinarian, Dr. Mike Petrik shares his thoughts on the use of poultry nipple drinkers

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

I raided my living room for a pillar candle holder to rig up this nipple drinker, which worked well, but it’s not as economical or as easy to find as a tomato cage stand.

Features of a Good Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand

  • Stable.
  • Height-adjustable for rapidly growing chicks.
  • Small footprint. Won’t take up valuable floor square footage.
  • Portable. Easily moved for brooder cleaning and relocation.
  • Space available underneath to accommodate a water catchment to protect litter.

LET’S MAKE IT!
Take a galvanized wire tomato cage and turn it upside down. Bend the unfinished prongs over and secure to opposite side with wire or zip ties. Cover unfinished ends with electric tape or duct tape.

I raided my living room for a pillar candle holder to rig up this nipple drinker, which worked well, but it’s not as economical or as easy to find as a tomato cage stand.

Features of a Good Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand

  • Stable.
  • Height-adjustable for rapidly growing chicks.
  • Small footprint. Won’t take up valuable floor square footage.
  • Portable. Easily moved for brooder cleaning and relocation.
  • Space available underneath to accommodate a water catchment to protect litter.

LET’S MAKE IT!
Take a galvanized wire tomato cage and turn it upside down. Bend the unfinished prongs over and secure to opposite side with wire or zip ties. Cover unfinished ends with electric tape or duct tape.

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

Hang the poultry nipple drinker from the new top of the tomato cage with wire, string, etc. Place a small container filled with litter underneath the drinker to catch any droplets of water the chicks may miss in their enthusiasm for consuming a clean beverage. Empty catch basin regularly. Never hang anything heavy from this stand that could cause the cage to bend and/or fall.


DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

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Chicks very naturally take to nipple drinkers, so training isn't an issue- my challenge has always been in finding up a system for holding the drinker inside the brooder, particularly when using a soft-sided brooder such as a puppy playpen or cardboard box. The solution? A tomato cage! Read on for directions to build your own!
Puppy playpen brooder in action! (playpen available at this link)

 

Newly hatched chicks naturally learn to use poultry nipple drinkers

The disadvantages of traditional chick drinkers are that chicks invariably foul the water with poop and litter, which is a recipe for illness and disease.

 

Traditional chick drinkers invariably are fouled with litter and poop

The disadvantages of traditional chick drinkers are that chicks invariably foul the water with poop and litter, which is a recipe for illness and disease. Poultry veterinarian, Dr. Mike Petrik shares his thoughts on the use of poultry nipple drinkers: “NOBODY who is raising chickens professionally has used cups, bell drinkers or troughs in the past 25 years…nipples have been used successfully on literally billions of chickens. The professional farmers across North America have made nipple drinkers the standard for all chickens. In fact, as a vet, I recommend that everyone raising hens change from open water sources to nipple drinkers….the hens get plenty of water, and the disease reduction is so striking that there is no doubt which is better.

The advantage of a nipple system is that it is quite resistant to bacterial growth, unlike the septic soup that most open waterers quickly become. I cannot recommend strongly enough that backyard chicken keepers consider using a nipple watering system for their hens…” Dr. Mike Petrik, DVM, MSc.aka: The Chicken Vet

Poultry veterinarian, Dr. Mike Petrik shares his thoughts on the use of poultry nipple drinkers

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

I raided my living room for a pillar candle holder to rig up this nipple drinker, which worked well, but it’s not as economical or as easy to find as a tomato cage stand.

Features of a Good Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand

  • Stable.
  • Height-adjustable for rapidly growing chicks.
  • Small footprint. Won’t take up valuable floor square footage.
  • Portable. Easily moved for brooder cleaning and relocation.
  • Space available underneath to accommodate a water catchment to protect litter.

LET’S MAKE IT!
Take a galvanized wire tomato cage and turn it upside down. Bend the unfinished prongs over and secure to opposite side with wire or zip ties. Cover unfinished ends with electric tape or duct tape.

I raided my living room for a pillar candle holder to rig up this nipple drinker, which worked well, but it’s not as economical or as easy to find as a tomato cage stand.

Features of a Good Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand

  • Stable.
  • Height-adjustable for rapidly growing chicks.
  • Small footprint. Won’t take up valuable floor square footage.
  • Portable. Easily moved for brooder cleaning and relocation.
  • Space available underneath to accommodate a water catchment to protect litter.

LET’S MAKE IT!
Take a galvanized wire tomato cage and turn it upside down. Bend the unfinished prongs over and secure to opposite side with wire or zip ties. Cover unfinished ends with electric tape or duct tape.

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

Hang the poultry nipple drinker from the new top of the tomato cage with wire, string, etc. Place a small container filled with litter underneath the drinker to catch any droplets of water the chicks may miss in their enthusiasm for consuming a clean beverage. Empty catch basin regularly. Never hang anything heavy from this stand that could cause the cage to bend and/or fall.


DIY Poultry Nipple Drinker Stand via The Chicken Chick®

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Peggy Tegeler
Peggy Tegeler
3 years ago

I am getting 6 to 8 hens that are already laying, they all come from the same flock. They drink out of pans right now. How hard is it to train them to use the poultry nipple drinkers ? What would be the best way to go about it ?

Denise rhodes
Denise rhodes
5 years ago

I am hoping that you can answer me quickly. My chick’s I got from a feed store and they are now 4 days old their poop is a light mustard color and loose. Is this normal? All I can find are sites for older chickens.

Paula Grorich
Paula Grorich
2024 years ago

Help! I did this exact set up and my water nipple is dripping continually! It emptied in less then twenty minutes. Did I get a faulty cap?

Sandi Tank
Sandi Tank
2024 years ago

Your articles have answered a lot of my “new chicken mom” questions!

Sandie Bauer Borders
Sandie Bauer Borders
2024 years ago

Love all the great ideas and information .. Thank you