Keeping water clean!

[chicksloveus]

I am new here. Small intro. I grew up in the country with horses. Have four boys but we are new to the chicken world. Just bought our first round of 6 egg layers and 1 meaty April 19th. We are finishing up our coop tomorrow and I am sooo ready. The meaty is currently by himself and the hens are in a large galvanized tub. They both have watering systems that we purchased. How in the heck can I prevent them from pooping in them and getting sawdust in them? I bet I clean it 5x/day! Also, any suggestions on how to separate the two kinds once they all go in the coop? The meaty won't be around much longer, but our new chicks just got here so we will be doing this all over against. Thanks so much for your input!

 

[andreanar]

I had this issue too with my chicks. I raised their food and water containers and made sure there is no lip that they can perch on.

 

[Going Quackers]

Once they were tall enough i starting raising the waterer and i actually with my last brood of chicks hung a small 3lb feeder in the brooder.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I raised mine too and put a piece of wood on the sides so they couldn't kick junk in from the sides.