Drinkers

[MarkEinOz]

G'day folks,

Just wanted to pass on a tip for drinkers for your quails.

I bit the bullet and decided it was to trial one of those ball bearing nipple rabbit drinkers. Works like a charm!!!! The quails being inquisitive critters soon learnt to take the water from the tip.
Attachment 3786

[GaryD]

Hi Mark,

Those waterers are good......particularly for guinea pigs and rabbits.

Quail are also creatures that become bored and, in the same way that they will sometimes empty a feeder by flicking it out all over the pen (because they can), they may also develop an interest in pecking at the ball valve to see the water flick about. Just worth keeping an eye out for signs that water consumption is more than usual.

My favourite water for quail is the Lubing drinker (follow menu to Drinkers......or similar. So long as they are positioned at the right height, they rarely need cleaning and the birds can always access clean water.

Gary

[MarkEinOz]

Gary I have those but didn't like them as they kept leaking/overfilling. I must be doing something silly but just don't know what!

[GaryD]

Hi Mark,

Feeders and waters seem to be most reliable when they are at their simplest......and most labour intensive. The further we get away from daily (or twice daily) inspection and replenishment, the more problematic they become.

I've had some cup drinkers leak, too. It's usually a matter of fiddling with them....or the supply pressure......until it stops.

The best feeder or waterer is the cheapest one that works for us. I'll be interested to see how the rabbit drinkers go for you.......particularly since quail tend to make a real mess of their water and it looks like your drinkers will resolve that problem.

Gary

[DaveOponic]

Hi Mark,

I bought one of those water bottles, just like your photo. The rabbit never took to it. She took a few drops and never bothered again. Now we don't use it, just back to the old plastic water bowl with a rock in the bottom (bunny always tips it over)

The bunny likes to gulp down huge mouthfuls of water, the tropical heat requires it. So I don't think the doled out water bottle suits the tropical rabbit.

[GaryD]

Hi,

I thought this was a good idea for chickens. It's a nipple drinker (of the type used in battery sheds everywhere) fitted to the bottom of a bucket (with lid).

It stays clean, is easy to fill and wouldn't cost a fortune to make. Attaching the nipple drinker to a small bottle connected by hose to a larger reservoir would enable several drinkers to be run off of a single reservoir.

Gary

[MarkEinOz]

Hi Mark,

I bought one of those water bottles, just like your photo. The rabbit never took to it. She took a few drops and never bothered again. Now we don't use it, just back to the old plastic water bowl with a rock in the bottom (bunny always tips it over)

The bunny likes to gulp down huge mouthfuls of water, the tropical heat requires it. So I don't think the doled out water bottle suits the tropical rabbit.

G'day DaveO,

I think with rabbits they need to be trained from very young via copying their mother to naturally take to it otherwise they are a pain - as you discovered!

[MarkEinOz]

Hi,

I thought this was a good idea for chickens. It's a nipple drinker (of the type used in battery sheds everywhere) fitted to the bottom of a bucket (with lid).

It stays clean, is easy to fill and wouldn't cost a fortune to make. Attaching the nipple drinker to a small bottle connected by hose to a larger reservoir would enable several drinkers to be run off of a single reservoir.

Gary

Yeah I looked at them, and might still have a go at trialling those too. Those can be got at Brookfields rather cheap at $1.35 http://www.brookfieldpoultryequipmen...hp?id=201&r=41

[MarkEinOz]

snip....
The best feeder or waterer is the cheapest one that works for us. I'll be interested to see how the rabbit drinkers go for you.......particularly since quail tend to make a real mess of their water and it looks like your drinkers will resolve that problem.

Gary

Well I must say I am really happy with the operation of these drinkers. I thought they might buggerise around with them and spill it everywhere but not at all. Average consumption is 55ml per day/bird, so they are probably dribbling a bit of it as there is a very slight amount of dampness but not much at all. Refills every three days per breeding pen makes me very happy!!

[GaryD]

Hi Mark,

Every three days is a good watering regime.

How many birds are you keeping at the moment?

Gary