Keeping bedding and poop out of the food and water

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

When mine were still in the brooder and raising the waterer on bricks was not enough, I McGyvered one of those clear plastic salad containers. I cut it in half and cut more so that all that was left was a squared corner, if that makes sense...and I put the waterer on top of it with the remaining solid side pointing toward where they were kicking the shavings from. It helped a lot.

I just KNOW this is helpful. I can't picture it in my mind's eye but I feel it in my bones that this is the bomb idea.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

This second go round with chicks, I repurposed a hummingbird feeder, minus the flower cap, and hung it up. No spillage, very little shavings, and barely any poops in it, since they could not stand/run/wade on its tiny ledge.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

I put my food and water up on wood platforms, to keep the shavings out. The right side is fermented feed in the dish, could be mistaken for shavings from the pic.
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I also hang stuff sometimes as they get bigger.

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Just goes to show the wisdom in brooding in the coop or run. Mine are in a nylon pet playpen thingy. I saw Oak Abode talk about one on her YT channel. I do like it for having chicks close, but I think brooding in a coop is simply the way to do. Hopefully next year I will be able to do that.