Chick feeder - No waste

[lynnehd]

I love the water bottle idea. My littles are so messy and I am changing the brooder box almost every day because they are spilling their water. Where' the best place to get the nipples for the waterer?

You can get them on Ebay and on Amazon. Both the straight nipple waterers and the little cups with the lever that the chicken taps to let in more water.
My chicks also caught on quickly to these; I tapped the nipple waterer a few times to give them the idea.

 

[yellowswirl]

You can get them on Ebay and on Amazon. Both the straight nipple waterers and the little cups with the lever that the chicken taps to let in more water.
My chicks also caught on quickly to these; I tapped the nipple waterer a few times to give them the idea.

Awesome, thanks. I'm definitely gonna try these.

 

[silkwormlady]

Hey Finnie - 2 days only of my hand with crumbles ... they got OK with that. Now look!!

They go nuts with boiled egg smashed with crumbles. The rooster Speckled Sussex esp. is Mr. Curiosity. What a hoot. When I say "hello" in the mornings, many little heads pop up and come to the "door"

 

[Finnie]

Hey Finnie - 2 days only of my hand with crumbles ... they got OK with that. Now look!!

They go nuts with boiled egg smashed with crumbles. The rooster Speckled Sussex esp. is Mr. Curiosity. What a hoot. When I say "hello" in the mornings, many little heads pop up and come to the "door"

Yay! I'm so happy for you!

 

[ehunter]

Get my chicks today!! Here's my feeder ready to go! Currently using regular waterer but will install nipple set up in the next week. Thanks so much for this thread, I never would have thought to try this.
Container has 1.25" drill bit holes every 2.5" (20" circumference). I used sand paper to dull any sharp edges and duct tape where I couldn't smooth it completely.

Should mention I used painters tape on the lid for easy cleaning.

 

[silkwormlady]

I tried the home made feeder and, for whatever reasons it didn't work so well for me. My chicks are within 3days of 4 weeks old. I put the regular feeder up on a 2 x 4 and they aren't wasting near as much! Started the nipple waterers and they are beyond wonderful. Have 2 hung for 9 chicks. I'd hang a third but don't have the box wall space for it. It swings too much from the ceiling and spooks them! They love love love the skinny board I ran through the brooder box and I'll get 3 or 4 perched on it, looking out at me. Pics later. Loads of fun! I almost hate the thought of them being in the coop.

 

[Finnie]

I noticed that now my chicks are three weeks old, they are jumping on top of the feeders I made from frosting tubs and knocking them over all the time. Time to upgrade to something bigger/more stable. The one I made from the Folger's coffee tub was working fine for the older group until they reached about 7 weeks, then they started pushing that one over too. So I guess I'll move the Folger's one over to the younger chicks, and put a regular hanging feeder in with the older group. They are ready to go out into the coop anyway.

Silkwormlady, you won't feel so bad about putting them into the coop when they get bigger. You will be feeling sorry for how cramped they are, and then when you see them spread out into a bigger space, it will make you smile.

 

[aart]

I noticed that now my chicks are three weeks old, they are jumping on top of the feeders I made from frosting tubs and knocking them over all the time. Time to upgrade to something bigger/more stable. The one I made from the Folger's coffee tub was working fine for the older group until they reached about 7 weeks, then they started pushing that one over too. So I guess I'll move the Folger's one over to the younger chicks, and put a regular hanging feeder in with the older group. They are ready to go out into the coop anyway.

Yep, here too. PITA!

 

[silkwormlady]

Yes. Moving them so they literally can spread their wings will be good for them, and I will like that. Still, they are becoming so vocal it's fun to listen to it all. Turns out that at the END of this week they'll be 4 weeks. Since they're feathering out so well, and I will resume the heat lamp in the box - since the box will be in an 8 x 8 building and not our snuggy warm house .. Out they'll go later this week.

They'll have to stay in the coop until our harrumph spring weather allows them some outdoor time. They are a hoot!