Used a regular fountain waterer and didn't like it, constantly needed cleaning so I switched over to nipples. My flock didn't fully embrace nipple watering systems and I had to give them emergency water several times during hot days. I tried the cups and had much greater success. They learned quick, setup is easy with multiple applications at an affordable price. Can but DIY installed within minutes with a drill and some plumbing thread tape into a watering pvc system or simply a bucket.