Ideas on how to keep shaving from water ... how long can they be left

[olivesmom]

My chicks are IN LOVE with the idea of scratching. They keep kicking the wood shavings into the water. I have cleaned it out atleast 20 times today. Any success on keeping the water flowing?

Also, I have a shop and usually go in about 10 days a month. I think I am going to go in on Wednesday. I will be gone 10 to 4. Should I bring the babies with? or will the trip be more of a stress? Any thoughts? They are about 2 weeks old.

Charlotte

 

[Dawn419]

Can you hang the waterer or maybe raise it up on bricks or wood scraps above the shavings some how? That's what I do.

As long as they are in a brooder and have a heat lamp, I'd leave them in it instead of having them travel with you. At 2 weeks old, you don't want them exposed to any drafts. They need a steady temperature of 90 degrees at this age.


Dawn

 

[S0rcy]

I keep the water up a bit, so when they scratch, they don't get it in there. I just got different sizes of wood blocks to put the waterer on until they were big enough to hop up on something. Now I have the waterer on a large block. They hop up to drink and they do well. No more scooping out shavings

If the shop is warm, I wouldn't see a problem with it though 10-4 isn't that long. They could safely stay at home I think unless there is some other reason you want to take them with (letting the public see them or you have a cat/dog you don't want to leave them alone with)

 

[olivesmom]

Great idea. I have a pile of briks for a new planter bed sitting outside. I will give that a try.

Thanks!

 

[dangerouschicken]

We have always had to rely on cinder blocks to raise the feeder and waterer up off the coop floor. Our coop is a plastic-type shed, and nothing can be hung from the ceiling. The cinder blocks are an excellent height.

 

[Cetawin]

I bought a 12" round concrete stepping stone at the building supply store today for 1.99...came home and elevated the waterer again. So far...no shavings in it.

As they grow and get taller, I raise it more and more.

 

[olivesmom]

This morning the chicks had no water ... the shavings had acted like a sponge and soaked up everything ... I think the chicks spent most of the night scratching!

Anyway, I went out and got one of the bricks, cleaned out the cage and viola ... no shavings all day. I have seen all three of them drink and they seems to love the idea of having something to jump on!

Thanks!

Also, today Mac (my nine year old) had a little tug of war over one of the shavings with Beginning (the new chick). It was really cute. Beginning tried with all his might to but the nine year won!

Bests,
Charlotte

 

[ams3651]

same problem here, I found a small box and put it up on there. still some in there but not as bad. it is so cute to see them scratching though

 

[Buff Hooligans]

It is chicks mission in life to kick shavings into their water. It's programmed into them. Horses have to run, cats have to scratch, dogs have to slobber, and chicks have to kick shavings into their water.

 

[Gindee77]

I've used both a piece of a 2X4 and a brick. I like the brick better because it's long enough for the waterer and for them t get up on the brick to drink. It really saves a long of work and worry.