How to stop chicks from kicking bedding into their water?

[loyalcrowlist]

I have seven chicks in an area a little over 45 sq. ft. with four different waterers and they all get bedding kicked into them multiple times a day. I've tried elevating them which seems to help a little but, boy, they're great at kicking things. It's possible I'm over-thinking this because usually out of the four there's one or two that has minimal bedding but it worries me. The waterers I have, I haven't figured out a way to hang them but if anyone has any ideas on that front, I'd appreciate it.

Also how good are waterers with nipples and are chicks who haven't used them before good at adapting?

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Waterer nipples are okay ... They can't get as much water as other waterers so its hard in the summer.

I used some bricks that I stacked and put the waterers on them they was hardly any bedding in it

 

[Miss Cheep]

Hi! There is not really a way to stop them from kicking stuff, it’s chicken nature to scratch the ground like that. To stop my own chicks from doing that I elevated a little, ( like you ) and then put some cardboard without shavings on it around the waterer. This stopped most of the shavings from getting into the water. I hope this helped!

 

[Weeg]

I love this idea-

I'd imagine it would help solve your problem.

 

[Weeg]

For the waterer you can use the cooling rack method. Place a cookie cooling rack in the brooder, and put the waterer on that. Any savings kicked onto the tray will fall through, and it should elevate and keep the waterer away from shavings to stop them from getting so much in the water.

 

[nuthatched]

I put my feeder and waterer in upside down Frisbees to collect spills and help prevent kicking issues.

 

[loyalcrowlist]

Hi! There is not really a way to stop them from kicking stuff, it’s chicken nature to scratch the ground like that. To stop my own chicks from doing that I elevated a little, ( like you ) and then put some cardboard without shavings on it around the waterer. This stopped most of the shavings from getting into the water. I hope this helped!

And they're okay to stand on the cardboard? I know there's a worry with slick surfaces and spraddle leg so I've been trying to avoid anything smooth.

 

[RoyalChick]

After a couple of days I hang my waterer at about head height so they have to stretch up to drink. I also give them a little perch they can jump up on if they prefer being above the water.
Isn’t perfect (boy can some of those babies kick!) but it stops most of it.

 

[3KillerBs]

I concur, elevating the water is the answer.

I keep raising the waterers up on boards, bricks, blocks, etc. to keep it about the height of their backs until I transition to horizontal nipple waterers once the chicks are old enough to operate them.

 

[Tonyroo]

Use less bedding for chicks.