How much water should chicks drink? Level hardly moving...

[Kjirstyn]

My chicks are going through food like crazy (granted they waste a lot) but the water level is hardly moving. There's only 4 chicks, using a quart waterer, but I'm not sure how much is going down them. They seem happy and bright eyed enough. Do baby chicks just not drink much? I read in the Storey's chicken book that about 1 gallon per day per 100 chicks is about right (for 2 week chicks) which makes the amount needed for 4 chicks only 1/25 of a gallon, which is about 5 oz. and I don't think they're getting that much down. More like 1 or 2. I clean it every day and dump debris throughout the day as it accumulates. I'd almost wonder if they're flavor picky (the Storey book said chickens were) except that they don't seem to be showing any poor health signs.

Anyway, was just wondering what others' experience with this is.

 

[debid]

Dehydration has obvious symptoms in a hurry. If they're eating and pooping and seem lively, they are drinking enough. I use containers with nipples so how much they drink is measurable. I've never bothered but it took 10 chicks ages to drain a one gallon bucket.

 

[Kjirstyn]

Thanks for the reassurance...I haven't had chickens since I was a kid, so I'm nervous about the details even though I'm comfortable with the overall concept of caring for them.

They are lively and they eat and poop plenty, so I guess they're good! They definitely prefer human food to their own food, but I can't blame them based on the smell of their mash. Yuck.

 

[Flock in SF]

Once I started adding unfiltered organic apple cider all my chicks started to visibly drink more water than just a peck here or there. They have always been alert and bright eyed, but seem to actually sit and drink now instead of peck at it.

 

[Kjirstyn]

You know, I read on Mother Earth News (I think it was there) that you can take ACV a step further and add kombucha to their water, which is what I've been doing. It's home fermented, and the base ingredient is ACV, so not only do they get those benefits, but they get probiotics from the kombucha. Win! Their water does seem to be moving faster this week-- as is their food. Must have just been an off week, or an age thing. :-D

 

[Tacampbell1973]

Hmm I'm dropper nursing a two day old chick. He's the last of the hatch and is still retaining his umbilicus stem. It's blackened and withered to half the size of yesterday, name may have to change from Extra Testicle to Raisin now, bright eyed but still not pooping. He had a bit of the pasting this morning which we soaked off, and Neosporin for the stump. Also had some Microcyn for the stump once today. Just worried as I am painfully aware of how fast they can get sick.