Keeping chickens' waterer clean

[animallover505]

I have trouble keeping the chicken's waterers clean. They seem to enjoy kicking dirt and scratch feed and leaves into the waterer. I have 9 hens, one has 4 chicks, and I'm about to add 15 more chicks that are about 2 or 3 months old.

 

[TeaChick]

If you could elevate it. Not out of reach of the peeps, but high enough to avoid some of the debris.
Another idea would be to install a licker system with PVC pipe instead of a waterer.

 

[animallover505]

The edge is already almost out of reach for the babies.

 

[TeaChick]

The edge is already almost out of reach for the babies.

I had trouble with the same thing. I had to cut a Smart Balance tub in half horizontally and change the water often. Later, I used a whole S.B. tub and put a half a brick in it. They still perched on the side of it until they started spending almost all day out of the coop. It's just for a while, until all of them are roosting outside the coop.
Mine like to drink hose runoff. If I leave my hose running, it creates a kind of river and they seem to prefer to drink from that. I've even dug a small canal of sorts so that they are getting cleaner water.
I hope some of this helps.
The only other solutions are to change the water several times a day or to install a PVC licker system.

 

[animallover505]

I like the canal idea

 

[TeaChick]

I like the canal idea

Cool. Glad I could be of help!!!

 

[S and A Layers]

Most of my pens I have automatic water float systems made by little giant can by at tractor supply but in my young chicken pens where I just have the chicken waterer you have to feel up, I put the waterer on top of a crate or if its a big waterer put a few crates together and put the waterer on top they jump up there and drink then jump down and the older ones just drink out of it, you can find crates at gas stations or buy them at tractor supply, it works for me I hope it helps you.