How the heck do you keep the shavings out of the water?!

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I have my chicks water elevated and I give them less chips and less woodchips in the area of the water. I have 12 chicks right now and they just love to practice their scratching.

Chest level with the smallest chick is an appropriate height for elevating water.

 

[mixedbreeds]

I get a little shavings in the waterer but not much I keep the waterer part were they drink at the same level as there back. That is normally perfect for them to drink and keep the waterer a little way away from the feeder as they fling shavings everywhere after they spill a little feed. That should help a lot

 

[christwodog]

I put my waterers on puppy pee pads from Petco, they are about 18 in square I believe, so it does help keep things cleaner. I also use alot of textured paper towels, not so much shavings - for me, they are easier to clean - I just roll them up 2x/day and toss. At one week old, I put in a chick waterer with the horizontal nipples and they will actually try it at that young age. At about 2.5/3 weeks old, they are totally using the nipple waterer and I can ditch the others!

 

[crikkit]

Mine took to a vertical nipple waterer when they were 3-4 days old. Then I just had to deal with shavings that would get wet they would decide to peck at it for fun, but at least their water stayed clean.

 

[red horse ranch]

I use 3 bricks, two for the water to set on and one for the chicks to climb up on to drink. I only have a problem with chips in the water if the hen is in there with them.

 

[JenLiz]

Yes, mine love to practice their scratching too! LOL Particularily one of my BO’s more than the others LOL Iguess I’m going to raise it higher and see if that works

I have my chicks water elevated and I give them less chips and less woodchips in the area of the water. I have 12 chicks right now and they just love to practice their scratching.

Chest level with the smallest chick is an appropriate height for elevating water.

 

[JenLiz]

I use 3 bricks, two for the water to set on and one for the chicks to climb up on to drink. I only have a problem with chips in the water if the hen is in there with them.

Oh I never thought of that! I’m definitely going to try this, thank you!!!

 

[JenLiz]

Thank you so much everyone! I’m going to try and raise the water more and see if that helps and if not I might invest in some vertical nipple waterers

 

[Acre4Me]

Nipple waterers. In the pic, they are on top of the heat plate. Once that gets removed, we will either add a shelf, or move to horizontal waterers - placed on a brick to raise them up a bit. Really great! I used a regular waterer before these (for quail chicks) and it was always needing to be cleaned and refreshed due to shavings or poop or both.

 

[Cryss]

Don't know your set up but can you possibly hang the water? They won't try to jump up on it and poop if it swings when they try to.