First Time chickens!

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HuntSam

HuntSam

In the Brooder
5 Years
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Mar 6, 2014
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Hello from Huntsville, TX

My wife and I are raising chickens from chicks for the first time starting today! This site has been incredibly helpful for gathering information so I figured, Why not join?! We are starting with four chicks in a brooder box made from a plastic tub with a heat lamp in the lid. The only question I have is whether a bowl would be ok to source water for now? I bought a 1 gallon drinker but it just takes up too much space in the box. I will use it in the coop when we move the chicks outside.
 
Welcome! I live in Conroe, just south of y'all!

I would not recommend an open source of water like s bowl for new chicks. Babies are at risk of drowning. Also once they get a bit bigger they will be walking in it and pooping in it, and turning it over, etc. Even little chicks are curious and get into things.

I would stay with the one gal. Waterer until you can find an alternative. This year in my brooder I have nipple waterers set up. Do a search here on chicken nipples and see if they might work better for you. I have mine in 20 oz. Bottles. They ones for my grown birds are installed in 5 gal. buckets.

There's lots to learn on here. I rarely have to ask auestions, the info I need is usually right here!
 
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Yes, any container, as long as they can access it, will work for water. Just make sure they can't fall in and drown. You can put stones or even rocks in the container so they can't fall in. You can get quart waterers at all feed stores. They take up little space. Make sure not to cover your brooder with any lids. A wire screen or hardware cloth will work well and still allow for good heat and oxygen exchange.

Good luck with your new babies and enjoy BYC!
 
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Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! X3, as long as they can reach the water and can't fall in and drown any small container can work, adding rocks or marbles is a good idea.
 
I am going with a bowl with marbles for now. Tractor Supply was out of quart drinkers. I ended up with two Bantams, 2 white pullet mixes, and 2 red pullet mixes. I look forward to this adventure!!
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How old are they to have these feathers growing? I was not told when I got them.
 

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