keeping dust out of heated dog waterer

[Mrs.ChickChick]

We just switched over to the regular 'ol heated dog dish, but my girls seem to stir up a lot of "dust" which collects on the edges and gets in the water. Any suggestions? When we used a regular plastic waterer, I'd swish around and dump out what was there in the reservoir and it would refill itself with fresh, clean water. But now I don't want to dump the whole dog dish full of water several times a day!

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Is it raised or is it sitting on the ground? If it's on the ground then I'd raise it. If it's already raised, then I'll have to let someone else help you with a suggestion!

 

[Mrs.ChickChick]

Thank you for the reply. Yes, it is raised as high as I think they can handle it, on a cinder block and some bricks. If I don't do that, they'll get shavings in it for sure! But mostly it's just dust getting in the water. I use the deep litter method, so the coop probably won't get cleaned out until spring. I sprinkle clean shavings every week or so. Occasionally food grade DE. Poop board gets shavings and cleaned completely about once a week. Why is it so dusty? Is this normal?