Clean water in brooder

[Ruralhideaway]

But the problem is that we already cut out the majority of the lid and put mesh over it so we could look down at them and they can't fly out when they get older.

Saw that. I'm talking a dowel running all the way across at the very top but just underneath the lid. Nipple water or regular chick water, I hang all food and waterers to keep them clean. Huge difference in the cleaning work load.

 

[triplepurpose]

I would set it up on some wood blocks to raise it above the bedding level. It will help some.

This is what we always do! find a couple of blocks of untreated wood scraps, as they grow bigger you can use a thicker piece or stack pieces. It doesn’t get much simpler or cheaper than that and it’s worked for many a flock of chicks.

No need to overthink this, especially with only a handful of chicks once, IMHO. And also remember that a little litter (or even—gasp!—the occasional turd) in the water now and then is not actually a disaster—provided you use non-toxic shavings—and as long as they can still get at the water and you refresh it regularly (if the brooder is indoors, you can keep a bucket handy to tip the dirty water out of the tray conveniently). Chickens aren’t really too particular—remember, they are happy to drink out of puddles and eat off the ground...

good luck

 

[Stephine]

I got this little drinker for my third (tiny) batch of chicks (just two), and it made a world of difference. Nothing to get dirty or knock over, change the water every couple of days.... soo easy. Now I use it for the grown ups in the coop as an emergency waterer. It really doesn’t break the bank and is just so much better. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...MI992j2Yr_2QIV17bACh2MagEgEAQYAiABEgKlDfD_BwE

 

[jeepgrrl]

Mine were about 5 weeks when I got them and taught them how to use nipple waterers - fabulous! Due to space in the brooder I got hubby to fit a nipple to a small water bottle which I was able to easily attach to the side saved space and with a drip tray underneath which I put some sand in was pretty clean too compared to the normal waterer I started with. Not sure how young they cna be taught to use them though.

I bought three small nipple waterers for my day-old chicks at one of the online farm suppliers (not sure if I can post the company's name on this forum). It's made especially for chicks, its white with a green and yellow top with an image of a chick on it. After I touched all of their beaks to the waterers, they took to it immediately and without any problems. I bought these waterers for two reasons. 1) We have a long commute to work so we are gone ~10.5 hours a day and I was worried about the chicks drowning in a conventional waterer. 2) I was planning on transitioning them to a large hanging waterer with nipples when they moved out to the coop. I wanted to be sure the water stayed clean. I love the nipple waterers, but they can not be used in the wintertime unless you buy a heated one.

 

[Jimberly]

My girls were on the chicken nipples- so much better than messy water and a wet brooder.

What is the best container with the nipples that you use? Is it self made?