How do you keep waterer semi clean?????

[OScarlet]

post #859 hope that worked... I made a post on the DIY thread about the ones I made.

 

[GimmeCake]

You can simply get some party ribbons, wrap them around the bottle, and tape the ends of the ribbons to the brooder wall (you may want to tape the ribbons to the waterer too to prevent it from falling). As for the water, I just used normal water and their just fine. So what I recommend is start switching now and nothing horrible should happen. Just slowly start lowering the amount of the current additives in the water until they're down to no additives.

 

[jdoane]

OScarlet that is SO cool!!!!! Wish I knew how to crochet!

Everybody - thanks for all the pointers!

 

[jdoane]

OScarlet I showed my 10 year old daughter your bottle hanger and she is now busily crafty something similar from duct tape. She is the duct tape queen so I will post a picture when she is done! And extra perk is she is busy for a couple hours!!!!

 

[aggiemae]

Chicks seem to want to climb higher than the others and the top of the waterer and food containers are often the highest place in a brooder so, besides elevating the containers, you can also provide a roost (or two) that is away from and higher up than to top of the water and food so the chicks don't have to use the containers to play 'king of the hill'.

BTW I have noticed that the chicks that get up on and manage to stay on the higher levels in the brooder tend to later end up being the highest hens in the flock.

 

[MelissaTXRn]

Horizontal nipples is how I keep them watered and clean!

 

[jdoane]

Can you explain horizontal nipples?

 

[slagartist]

I have six 3-4 week old chicks, and let me tell you, they are sooooooooo messy it's not funny.

I have to clean out the waterer and feeder (someone likes to roost on top of it instead of the branch, so she poops in it -_-) at least 2x a day. Both are elevated about 1.5-2" off the floor to meet their chest height, and I still gotta clean it out. I don't have a setup that allows me to hang their waterer or feeder, so I have to prop them up (bricks and/or old tins filled with pebbles). The problem is, they're trying to forage. They're kicking up pine shavings looking for goodies, even though they're feeder is right there because, well, they're chickens, doin' what chickens do.

Once they're bigger (6 weeks+) and move out to the coop, you can elevate the water and feeder better, and keep them in areas that aren't so messy. They'll also have more room to forage, so they're likely not to kick up stuff directly next to their water dish. It's a lot of work when they're chicks, but just be diligent. Think of it as having very tiny, fuzzy babies for a few weeks. They need a lot of care and attention, is all, and they're very naughty -- but oh so cute!

 

[jdoane]

OScarlet and others. This is the water bottle hanger that my daughter made out of duct tape. Definitely strong enough to support the weight of a full bottle. Just waiting for the chick nipples to arrive now!!

 

[MelissaTXRn]

Sorry I just got back to you. Here is mine https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/811413/my-horizontal-water-nipple-waterer/0_40#post_11756575