Kale Chips
Songster
Hi guys! I just wanted to let people know what I have found works REALLY well for my flock of 8 chickens! If you disagree, that's totally fine, but a couple months ago it would have saved me a lot of trouble had I known what I do now!
I tried several types of feeders and waterers (including horizontal nipple waterers) and it has been a learning experience. The horizontal nipple waterer worked, it just wasn't my favorite because I could never tell if my chickens were getting enough water and it just didn't seem natural. I also built a DIY feeder that dispensed crumbles when the chickens ate, but if any moisture got in it would clog and it just wasn't working.
So my solution: A pie dish for food and a container for water! Seriously! A single glass pie dish works PERFECTLY!! NO MESS, NO FIGHTS, and NO GOING HUNGRY! All 8 beauties just surround the pie dish and eat their fill without crumbles flying all over and without being able to scratch at the food. If I had any more chickens I would just set out a second pie dish and I would be all set. I put 2-3 cups of food in it in the morning, and 2-3 cups of food in it at night and they are perfectly content! Simplicity actually works in this case!
As for water, I have a very large tupperware about 4 inches deep that I refill once a day, and it stays clean and fresh. Never has a bird pooped in it, and now they can dunk their beaks in and get water! Honestly, it takes so little time each day to refill it, it isn't even an issue.
So, if you are a first-time chicken keeper and are wondering if you need to have some fancy (and downright EXPENSIVE) feeder or waterer, I am here to tell you that NO, you don't!! And if you are a well-seasoned chicken expert and are looking to simplify your coop, look no further.
I tried several types of feeders and waterers (including horizontal nipple waterers) and it has been a learning experience. The horizontal nipple waterer worked, it just wasn't my favorite because I could never tell if my chickens were getting enough water and it just didn't seem natural. I also built a DIY feeder that dispensed crumbles when the chickens ate, but if any moisture got in it would clog and it just wasn't working.
So my solution: A pie dish for food and a container for water! Seriously! A single glass pie dish works PERFECTLY!! NO MESS, NO FIGHTS, and NO GOING HUNGRY! All 8 beauties just surround the pie dish and eat their fill without crumbles flying all over and without being able to scratch at the food. If I had any more chickens I would just set out a second pie dish and I would be all set. I put 2-3 cups of food in it in the morning, and 2-3 cups of food in it at night and they are perfectly content! Simplicity actually works in this case!
As for water, I have a very large tupperware about 4 inches deep that I refill once a day, and it stays clean and fresh. Never has a bird pooped in it, and now they can dunk their beaks in and get water! Honestly, it takes so little time each day to refill it, it isn't even an issue.
So, if you are a first-time chicken keeper and are wondering if you need to have some fancy (and downright EXPENSIVE) feeder or waterer, I am here to tell you that NO, you don't!! And if you are a well-seasoned chicken expert and are looking to simplify your coop, look no further.
