I made my own drown proof button waterer and it worked! Photos

[smallbluejellybean]

Hi everyone,
Today was another very hot day here in Sydney. I finally got fed up with the little lid and marble waterer I had in the brooder. I would have to refill both of them every hour. So I came up with this idea BELOW and it works. The chicks even wade right in and the water level is just at their ankles. They can get in and out without effort. (Somebody else has probably come up with idea before, but it was new to me)

Here is my brooder set up. I refurbed it today. I know people say not to use straw, but I thought I would give it a try as I had nothing else to really put down. I am going shopping tomorrow. They are doing fine and even my little runt with the funny toe is improving.

Some photos of my little babys.

I only have 7 eggs left in the incubator. Two are pipping and the others are making up their minds. You can't see all of them in this pic sorry.

My hens are taking shifts on the other eggs in the aviary. I even know now when its shift change as the male calls out over and over. If all the girls are busy he sits on them for awhile too.

 

[bluebird]

Cute babies! Nice set-up too!

 

[NonnasBabies]

How cute!!

Looks like your setup is working great for you!!

Missi

 

[quailbrain]

What type of wire? material is that? Will it rust? Looks like it's great!

 

[La Mike]

Good job

Its great when all your hard work actually works.

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Quote:
Its galvinised, rustproof, mouse proof, 7mm aviary wire.
I bought some for the aviary and had left overs. I bought it for $10 a metre at a pet supply place.
The dish is just a terracotta pot plant dish. (terracotta also keeps the water cool - especially in Aussie heat)
And just marbles and stones and of course water.
Thanks everyone, those little babies are as cute as "Buttons"
I got up around 3am and went out to check on them and all of them were in their "Button Pond" as I call it now, drinking and wading around.
Its just right for them.

 

[Patti's_Pets]

Adorable babies! Congrats on the great hatch!

 

[b.hromada]

Nice job!

Your brooder is so cute too! Those babies are just precious! Enjoy!

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Thanks to the new waterer, my babies are still alive. It was 43c /109f in the shade today in western Sydney.
It was great not having to top up waterers all the time and felt comfortable they wouldn't drown.
I had 2 more hatch today and they have joined the others.
Because it was a staggered hatch they range in size. I have one silver one that when I introduce new ones it runs over and takes them for a tour and takes care of them. I am hoping its a hen.
The biggest is a wild, (I will call him a he) he is the leader. If he goes to the feed dish he calls and everyone else follows. If he goes to the pond he calls and there they all are again. Quite funny to watch.
I love when they sleep, they are like popcorn. If one pops up they all do.
Its actually that hot here my hens are hardly sitting on their eggs. They should be hatching tomorrow or the next day.
I supplied them with one of my waterers too. My canaries even use it too.

 

[darkfur]

gorgeous!
if I were you I'd take scissors to the hay and chop it into very short pieces so they can't get tangled in it. I lost a hen chick in its nest that way once. I tend to use wood chips myself nowadays, also since they seem to absorb poo better. For the first 4 or so days I only used chux as they fall over so much at that age I like them to have a good footing.
I have heard some people say, galv wire is not so safe for birds on account of zinc toxicity. It's usually an issue with parrots that chew on their cages. I don't know much about it but what you could do is take the wire out and put more pebbles in? I would hate to think that some of the zinc could dissolve in the water and make the babies sick. I use pebbles on their own (pretty ones like yours lol must be a girl thing) and they poke their beaks down into the gaps between the pebbles. The types of waterers that attach to a preserving jar are good too. Good on you for thinking of them in the hot weather
Do they like the tunnel thing? I made a tunnel for my coturnix out of the leg/ankle of an old ugg boot and they go crazy for it! (I stiffened it by jamming a PVC pipe between the outer and the lining of the boot if anyone is interested, just so it would stay open and easier to get in and out of)