Bigger waterers - question about SILKIES

gritsar

Cows, Chooks & Impys - OH MY!
14 Years
Joined
Nov 9, 2007
Messages
28,913
Reaction score
490
Points
681
Location
SW Arkansas
It's time for big waterers for my chicks. With 32 chicks in the brooder I'm cleaning and refilling waterers hourly it seems.

I am concerned about switching to the 3 gallon waterers that have a trough that is approx. 1 1/2 inches wide because there are two silkies in the brooder.
The silkies are 4 weeks old and are now approximately the size of a "normal" day old chick. They are fiesty and don't get pushed around by the much larger chicks.

Will they be okay with the larger waterers? I don't want them to drown.

TIA
smile.png
 
Put a bunch of marbles in it and you won't have to worry.
 
They seemed about the right size when you sent me pics, but if they are not much bigger by now, I would increase their protein. They do grow a lot slower than other breeds though.

I give all of my chicks to broody hens and they drink from the same waterer's without marbles, and they all do great. If I brood them myself, I put marbles in the waterer.
 
Quote:
Yeah, they're growing alright. Much bigger than when I sent you those pics. In the extremely ugly feathering stage right now. Both have full crops at night and are very active, so I don't worry too much about them. Little Blue, now named Jethro, managed to snag himself a cricket last night. I was proud of him.
smile.png

Trying not to overthink raising silkies. Thanks for the input.
smile.png
 
This may seem obvious, but what do the marbles do?? Is it so the chicks see the water? New to chickens, lol.
 
Quote:
welcome-byc.gif


the marbles let the water through so they can drink it, but prevent them from drowning themselves.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom