Dishpan Waterers- Oops, They Can Be Dangerous!

[ranchhand]

I have used plastic dishpans as waterers in the runs for many years. Cheap, easy to scrub and refill, replace every 5-6 years at the dollar store.

But I have a run/coop full of 21 little gangsters right now, 14 weeks old. And since they drink a LOT of water, so I put a second pan of water in for them.
Late yesterday I noticed they had tumped one all the way over, but the other was still full of water. No biggie, I'll scrub and fill tomorrow.

So, this afternoon I went to do some chores and remembered the dishpan upside down. Got the hose nearby, picked up the dishpan......................................



and released the cuckoo hen who had been under there all night! She was fine, but I felt my blood drain to my toes!

Hard to do a headcount at night when the 21 devil spawn won't roost, so I had given up. I need to secure the waterers now, so they can't tump them over. Zip ties will take care of that!

 

[WriterofWords]

I would rather find her alive under a dry one that floating in a full one, that is what happened to me.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
What a bummer that must have been Kate, sorry to hear it. I do always make sure the birds are big and agile enough to get out before I go to the dishpan waterers. Sometimes in the summer they like to stand in them to cool their feet!

 

[Mahonri]

I had some boards I once put up to block nest boxes. One evening they got feisty and knocked the boards over and I didn't find the roo under them until the next morning. He was alive and NOT happy.

 

[ranchhand]

LOL, I bet not! This little Cuckoo just stood up, "fluffled" her feathers and wandered off to the food. Didn't seem to bother her nearly as much as it did me!