[Sudanpan]

Ok - probably daft question - but how do you teach pigs to use these nipple drinkers? We generally get weaners in at 8 weeks old and take them through to 6/7 months and we waste a huge amount of water with water getting muddied and grotty.


Anyone got any tips?


Thanks 

[raindogs]

I sat with my weaners next to the drinker and put a small dollop of yoghurt on the nipple. When they went to lick it off I activated the nipple so that water flowed. It took a couple of visits, but eventually they got the idea. I think their natural inquisitiveness will help out in the end. Hope this helps, philip

[HappyHippy]

Ours get a smear of jam (or sometimes nutella  ) to help them figure it out - once one gets the hang of it, it doesn't take the rest long to figure it out 
It's worth keeping a bowl of water in with them until you are 100% certain they are all using it though - salt poisoning sets in quick, especially with younger piglets (from painful experience  )
HTH
Karen

[Sudanpan]

Great - thanks for the tips. I think we'll get a couple and see what happens 

[HappyHippy]

If you're piping them in using blue alkathene pipe - just make sure there's a bit of board or something shielding the very appetising looking pipe from the pigs  (don't ask me how I know  )
Also for fittings for alkathene pipe, the best place I found was pipestock.com http://www.pipestock.com/mdpe/mdpe-pipe-fittings/- the 'male' fittings fit direct into the brackets which hold the nipple and with a wee bit of ptfe tape there aren't any leaks  plus, they send you a free tape measure every time you order - handy when you've got an OH who eats them !