Any ideas of keeping shavings out of water?

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I was too lazy to go down to the wood pile for a block of wood so I went to the kitchen and grabbed a trivet...hey, it works

 

[cleoandtheo]

I was changing the waterer 6-8 times a day! I tried a platform, and several other tricks. They kicked shavings in the water, knocked the whole waterer over and soaked all of the shavings in the brooder. When I finally got the platform situation such that they couldn't kick shavings in any more, they pooped in the water!!! UG.... Solution: rabbit waterer with the metal ball at the bottom. Took them all of one minute to figure it out. I am so happy I could jump for joy!

 

[SaltLakeSpice]

I used to flip over a bowl and put it on top of that just to get it above the shavings. This year though I started using nipple waterers (very similar to cleoandtheos suggestion) and shavings were not an issue at all.

 

[Sequin]

I use the rabbit waterer too. LOVE this method. When first introducing it though, make sure all chicks are drinking well from it so no one gets dehydrated. One of my chicks went through this, and was weak enough I had to give her water that wicked up in my nail - now she runs to my fingers when I refresh the water. LOL

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

We installed a new door and I latched onto the pieces of 2x4's before DH could put them in the trash. I put the water dish on one and then put another in front of it for the shortest chick...others have no problem.

 

[ChickenMama18]

Quote:
Me too

Me three!

 

[beckymom3]

Use play sand instead of shavings. They kick some into the waterer, but it settles on the bottom and doesn't swell and absorb the water. Absorbs odor very well (we have our chickies inside so that matters!) When they are old enough to reach, I put the waterer on a platform.

I like the idea of a rabbit/guinea pig waterer, but I have too many chicks right now. I'd be refilling water bottles all day! I'm interested in nipple waterers for the coop. No way to hang one inside right now, but I think that's a great alternative to messy trough waterers.

 

[Whisper]

*sigh*

I have ducklings in with my chicks. Not by choice-- we've had equipment failures and we're down to one working brooder.

Waterer is empty and then filled with shavings, within five minutes of placing it in the brooder.

I can't wait till the ducklings can be moved into their perma-pen!

 

[write2caroline]

Poop free Avian Waterer thingy that hangs - It has a nib and the chickens drink from the nib. I ordered mine from someone on this website. It is the only thing I have found that keeps food, shavings, dirt whatever is scratched up out of the water.

Caroline

 

[trilyn]

Yeah, you can pay a small fortune for the Avian Aqua Miser (I'm not knocking this system, just pricey) or you can do it yourself. Check out my byc page for deets, if you are diy challenged, then check these guys out:

http://www.blackcreekpoultry.com/

Nipple waterers are easy, clean and very versatile. You can adapt these to suit your growing flock very easily!!