Brooder Watering Help

[rosemarythyme]

A brick works great, perfect height for chicks past a week or so in age.

Otherwise... let them make a mess. The chicks don't care and they're fine drinking it anyhow. I empty it once in the morning and if they kick a bunch of stuff in within an hour, they get to drink around it for the next 23 hours.

 

[Cluckstar]

I have a waterer similar to yours, but it has a plastic reservoir with a loop on it . I ran a stick across the top of my brooder and suspended the waterer from that, with with a string, the base at about chick back height. Took me about 3 weeks to figure that out and it made a tremendous difference. I was able to get away with changing water daily instead of every 15 minutes. Now they've been moved out to the coop (about 6 weeks old) and I do the same, suspending the waterer from a hook. (I subscribed to the idea of putting water and food in coop too, sun is up around 4:30am here in the summer and it's a few hours later before I'm up to let them out).

I've considered this, just wasn't sure if I could easily suspend mine. I guess I could try. The chicks are in a large dog crate, so I could suspend the feed and water from the top grill. I'll try it out tomorrow. I think I might have some twine in the garage.

 

[Cluckstar]

So, my solution was inspired by hanging baskets. I found a short video on YouTube and hung the feeder and waterer from the top of the dog crate they're in. They're using it with no fuss, so now we'll see if they can keep it clean(er)...

 

[Cluckstar]

It's been 8hrs since I gave the chicks fresh water. I checked in on them and it's still spotless. Not even a single fleck of dust. I recommend hanging them to anyone else looking for a solution to this issue. It's worked perfectly for us. I understand now why most people suspend them in the coop and run.

 

[Parront]

So, my solution was inspired by hanging baskets. I found a short video on YouTube and hung the feeder and waterer from the top of the dog crate they're in. They're using it with no fuss, so now we'll see if they can keep it clean(er)... View attachment 2190807View attachment 2190809View attachment 2190810

Very creative!

 

[Chickstarrs]

That's a great idea! Did you make the hangers? Too bad I don't remember the macramé that I used to do when I was a teen.

 

[Cluckstar]

That's a great idea! Did you make the hangers? Too bad I don't remember the macramé that I used to do when I was a teen.

Yes I made them with twine from the dollar store. I found a short how-to video on YouTube for hanging planters.

 

[middle TN Nancy]

UPDATE: Page 2

My chicks keeping filling their water with shavings. It's non-stop. I could change my chick's water every 10 minutes and still find copious amounts of shavings flung in each time. Anyone got some good tricks or hacks for preventing this? I want their water to be clean and fresh, but it's been hard as I work full-time. I wasn't expecting this to be such an issue.

Thanks,
Mary.

I purchased a chick waterer made from a bicycle water bottle - It is in a sturdy holder that can be attached to the brooder wall. It has a vertical nipple on the bottom and my day-old chicks drank from it within 10 minutes. Because I didn’t know if the chicks would understand how to drink from the nipple, I also got a small chick waterer that has the little red cup that automatically keeps itself filled. It Is about shoulder high for the chicks and stays completely clean. They all drink from both.

 

[RebelChief]

I have a waterer similar to yours, but it has a plastic reservoir with a loop on it . I ran a stick across the top of my brooder and suspended the waterer from that, with with a string, the base at about chick back height. Took me about 3 weeks to figure that out and it made a tremendous difference. I was able to get away with changing water daily instead of every 15 minutes. Now they've been moved out to the coop (about 6 weeks old) and I do the same, suspending the waterer from a hook. (I subscribed to the idea of putting water and food in coop too, sun is up around 4:30am here in the summer and it's a few hours later before I'm up to let them out).

Four words for you...solar operated automatic door it's a god send

 

[Doc7]

UPDATE: Page 2

My chicks keeping filling their water with shavings. It's non-stop. I could change my chick's water every 10 minutes and still find copious amounts of shavings flung in each time. Anyone got some good tricks or hacks for preventing this? I want their water to be clean and fresh, but it's been hard as I work full-time. I wasn't expecting this to be such an issue.

Thanks,
Mary.

yes use these types of waterers, no problems at ALL!!!! I have never used anything different, and also never had to post about dirty chicken water! These are my videos: