When I had chicks without a hen, I was able to put down a chick waterer and feeder without any problem. Now that I have a mama with the babies this time, and I actually have TWO hens that are sharing five chicks, they are kicking and scratching in the litter around the chick waterer and the chicks have water for only the first hour after I fill it!
I don't want to leave a big bowl in there for them to drown in and I need to keep litter in the enclosure (it is a multi-purpose space) so how do I keep the waterer clear? I tried setting it on some stuff but the chicks were having a hard time getting to it. What would be the right thing to set it on or are there any other suggestions?
I know I could take the hens away, but these poor mamas were broody for almost three months and I could not break them of it. They need to finish out their families and I'll only take them out if its a last resort and I can't devise anything else. The mama hen/baby love thing going on is just too cute too, I wouldn't want to break it up.
I don't want to leave a big bowl in there for them to drown in and I need to keep litter in the enclosure (it is a multi-purpose space) so how do I keep the waterer clear? I tried setting it on some stuff but the chicks were having a hard time getting to it. What would be the right thing to set it on or are there any other suggestions?
I know I could take the hens away, but these poor mamas were broody for almost three months and I could not break them of it. They need to finish out their families and I'll only take them out if its a last resort and I can't devise anything else. The mama hen/baby love thing going on is just too cute too, I wouldn't want to break it up.