4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[MikeJones]

Hi

 

We got our Cube and chickens on Thursday and I am probably flapping, but they haven't been near the water dispensers underneath the glug. They spent the whole time sucking the water off the wire mesh instead.

 

I ended up putting a plastic container of water inside the run on Saturday, which they do drink from. I'm now thinking this was a mistake.

 

What should I be doing?

 

Cheers

 

Mike

[Egluntyne]

Hi Mike. Welcome aboard.

 

Have you checked that the "dispensers" are working?

 

Maybe if you show the hens what to do, they will cotton on.

 

However, it is more important that they drink, so if they don't suss it, I would pu the glug lower so that they can drink from the top.

[Groovychook]

Hi Mike,

 

I know exactly where you're coming from! We got our cube about a month ago and four of the girls took to the super glug after a bit of training almost straight away. This involved tapping the 'teats' with a stick so that they could see the water coming out.

 

The other two, however, couldn't get the hang of it at all and as I was frantic with worry, thinking that they wouldn't be getting anything to drink, I put a large dog bowl full of water in as well. As soon as I introduced that, the two that hadn't been using the glug were happy, as were the other four... they seemed to prefer drinking from the bowl!

 

The water bowl needed changing a couple of times a day as they seemed to like paddling in it as well...

 

It was suggested to me that I just remove the dog bowl & force them to get used to the super glug- I tried it for half a day but was still very concerned that they weren't drinking...

so....

 

I've ended up sending off for another grub & (normal) glug set and I have them positioned at different sides of the run... I've placed the normal glug so that it's really low down and they can all dip into it easily. They do still use the super glug so all's not lost... just seems a shame to have had to go to the extra expense of buying another feeder & waterer but in the end I thought it was worth it not to be worrying all the time!

 

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

[sandyhas3chucks]

Hi Mike. Welcome aboard.

 

Have you checked that the "dispensers" are working?

 

Maybe if you show the hens what to do, they will cotton on.

 

However, it is more important that they drink, so if they don't suss it, I would pu the glug lower so that they can drink from the top.

 

I havent got one but the image of you mouth under glug showing the chickens brightened my wet day up

[Egluntyne]

Hi Mike. Welcome aboard.

 

Have you checked that the "dispensers" are working?

 

Maybe if you show the hens what to do, they will cotton on.

 

However, it is more important that they drink, so if they don't suss it, I would pu the glug lower so that they can drink from the top.

 

I havent got one but the image of you mouth under glug showing the chickens brightened my wet day up

 

Glad to be of service.

[helenmb]

I know exactly where you're coming from! We got our cube about a month ago and four of the girls took to the super glug after a bit of training almost straight away. This involved tapping the 'teats' with a stick so that they could see the water coming out.

I too did the stick tapping trick which worked for me. They still took a bit of time to get the hang of it (a day or two). I remember reading on the forum somewhere that one forum member was really worried that her girls weren't getting enough fluid until she saw them from the house (with the aid of binoculars) that they used it when she wasn't around and didn't us it when she was near to them .

I also have a normal glug for them too as I have 7 girls so don't want squabbles. I find that the drink from the super glug more in the afternoon before they go to bed, not sure why. Plus my Bluebelle really has got the hang of it and really can hold up the 'teet' so the water runs into her mouth. The others make much more of a stabbing motion.

 

Hope they get the hang of it as it keeps the water much cleaner than a conventional 'dip you beak in type of drinker'.

[MikeJones]

Ended up putting the glug down lower so they can drink out of the top! My hens were never going to get it! Tried a stick and tried my finger, but they just wanted to peck the finger!!!

[Plum]

Can't wait for your post saying, help they are perching on top of the glug. Don't worry there are solutions if yours are mischievous.

[Olly]

yup, I'm the one who sits in the kitchen with the 'bins trained on the run!

 

I've got a new girl at the moment so I've put a Glug full of water in as well as the Superglug to give her more chance of getting some, and sure enough that is emptied every day - they will take the easy route every time!

 

If you offer an alternative, they'll drink from it; my own feeling would be to stick it out, and they will get the hang of the Superglug. Obviously monitor the situation in case you think they are not drinking, but once they have seen water dripping out of the nipples when you tap it, they should cotton on.

[bronze]

Am I the only one who made them lump it and oddly have had no problems

[moomin]

I have the same problem with the grub. My two have never really taken to it I don't think they like sticking their heads in there

 

So I've now hung a conventional hanging feeder in the run, I fill it with Wiggly Wigglers Mash with Bokashi and Pellets, mixed together and they are eating a lot more. A bit of it goes on the floor admitedly, but I am having to fill it up every day