- Jan 24, 2009
- 13
- 0
- 22
Hi chicken friends,
I've search the forum and found a few almost-related topics, but not specifically, so I was hoping you could help me.
My setup:
I have 7 chickens, one year old, in a shed-like coop with 24/7 access to an enclosed run. I use a 3 gallon galvanized double walled fount on a level, metal-pan style water heater, which is elevated on a couple concrete blocks. They've had no problem drinking water from the fount until about 2 weeks ago.
Problem history:
2 wks ago, I changed their food to a different type, still a layer ration. They absolutely devoured it, and seem to like it still. Shortly after this, I noticed my chickens were not drinking as much water. There's been a lot of snow on the ground which they like to eat, and they've been getting moisture-rich treats like greens, lettuce, and pumpkin, so I didn't really think too much of it. There was always a small amount of water in the bottom of the 3 gallon galvanized waterer I use, but it still seemed like they were not drinking as much. A week ago, I noticed they were starting to lose feathers. It seems they are only losing body feathers (shaking after a dust bath, you can see a few feathers fly out), they're not losing head or neck feathers, and not enough to really show when you look at the chickens, only enough to make the coop and run look like there are more feathers around (full feathers, not broken). I started getting fewer eggs. A few days ago, I finally thought they must be having their first molt, and I thought that maybe they are drinking less water because of molting. Now, I realize they should not drink less water when molting, and I started wondering if something was preventing them from getting water.
So, I cleaned the waterer well, and did a test where I slowly remove the water that has fallen down into the pan to see if it fills properly. It fills only enough to maintain 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the tray. It used to maintain the water level at 3/4 inch, to the point where the pan was 3/4 full. I'm thinking now that the chickens are unable to really get enough water into their beaks, since it is only refilling to about 1/4 inch.
When I empty the waterer, I always tip the double walled fount to the side, as recommended to break the vacuum, so I don't believe I've damaged it. I paid around $28 for it, so I'm interested in fixing it rather that getting something new. I am keeping a 2nd bowl of fresh water out there now until I'm sure this is figured out.
What is it about the fount that controls the water level in the tray? Any idea why a galvanized dbl walled fount will stop filling past 1/4 inch? Do you think that's enough for chickens to get enough water into their beaks? Any idea how to adapt the fount so it releases more water down into the pan without ruining the fount?
Regarding the feather loss - is it unusual for chickens to molt in February in a climate like Denver? Have you ever caused a molt by changing the food to a different type? I'm now mixing the food half and half with the previous food and they have ample water.
Any ideas are really appreciated. Thanks so much.
P.S. A few months ago, a friend cared for the chickens, and she didn't know to tip waterers to the side when emptying to break the vacuum. This was A DIFFERENT dbl walled fount, and it was damaged and the result was it doesn't stop filling the pan so it slowly releases all it's water through the pan, running over the side of the pan until it's empty, rendering it useless (if you have an suggestions how to fix that fount too I'd be so grateful). I feel like my investment in 2 dbl walled founts (around $55 total) was a waste of money and I heard these were so durable and I'd have them for years!
Thanks for any responses.
I've search the forum and found a few almost-related topics, but not specifically, so I was hoping you could help me.
My setup:
I have 7 chickens, one year old, in a shed-like coop with 24/7 access to an enclosed run. I use a 3 gallon galvanized double walled fount on a level, metal-pan style water heater, which is elevated on a couple concrete blocks. They've had no problem drinking water from the fount until about 2 weeks ago.
Problem history:
2 wks ago, I changed their food to a different type, still a layer ration. They absolutely devoured it, and seem to like it still. Shortly after this, I noticed my chickens were not drinking as much water. There's been a lot of snow on the ground which they like to eat, and they've been getting moisture-rich treats like greens, lettuce, and pumpkin, so I didn't really think too much of it. There was always a small amount of water in the bottom of the 3 gallon galvanized waterer I use, but it still seemed like they were not drinking as much. A week ago, I noticed they were starting to lose feathers. It seems they are only losing body feathers (shaking after a dust bath, you can see a few feathers fly out), they're not losing head or neck feathers, and not enough to really show when you look at the chickens, only enough to make the coop and run look like there are more feathers around (full feathers, not broken). I started getting fewer eggs. A few days ago, I finally thought they must be having their first molt, and I thought that maybe they are drinking less water because of molting. Now, I realize they should not drink less water when molting, and I started wondering if something was preventing them from getting water.
So, I cleaned the waterer well, and did a test where I slowly remove the water that has fallen down into the pan to see if it fills properly. It fills only enough to maintain 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the tray. It used to maintain the water level at 3/4 inch, to the point where the pan was 3/4 full. I'm thinking now that the chickens are unable to really get enough water into their beaks, since it is only refilling to about 1/4 inch.
When I empty the waterer, I always tip the double walled fount to the side, as recommended to break the vacuum, so I don't believe I've damaged it. I paid around $28 for it, so I'm interested in fixing it rather that getting something new. I am keeping a 2nd bowl of fresh water out there now until I'm sure this is figured out.
What is it about the fount that controls the water level in the tray? Any idea why a galvanized dbl walled fount will stop filling past 1/4 inch? Do you think that's enough for chickens to get enough water into their beaks? Any idea how to adapt the fount so it releases more water down into the pan without ruining the fount?
Regarding the feather loss - is it unusual for chickens to molt in February in a climate like Denver? Have you ever caused a molt by changing the food to a different type? I'm now mixing the food half and half with the previous food and they have ample water.
Any ideas are really appreciated. Thanks so much.
P.S. A few months ago, a friend cared for the chickens, and she didn't know to tip waterers to the side when emptying to break the vacuum. This was A DIFFERENT dbl walled fount, and it was damaged and the result was it doesn't stop filling the pan so it slowly releases all it's water through the pan, running over the side of the pan until it's empty, rendering it useless (if you have an suggestions how to fix that fount too I'd be so grateful). I feel like my investment in 2 dbl walled founts (around $55 total) was a waste of money and I heard these were so durable and I'd have them for years!
Thanks for any responses.
