Leaving country for a week.. need ideas !

[rosemarythyme]

Yep..so.,. I got one of those nipple thing waterer.. none of my birds know or learned how to use it.

Might have to train them to use it. Take away all other water sources and then when they start looking around for water "peck" at the nipple with your fingers and let them come over and investigate it OR pick up a couple of the higher ranked birds and use their beaks to press the toggle until water comes out, let them drink, repeat. I don't consider training done until I've seen every bird drinking from the nipple, and if you have birds that are a little derpy or something like a crossbeak, it may take them longer than the others to pick it up (can take weeks in some cases).

You still have some time to train them to use it, though depending on the type of nipple and your temperatures, the toggles can possibly freeze, so it may not be a good idea to rely on a waterer like that while you're gone.

 

[Folly's place]

"KISS" Keep it simple stupid!
Nothing complicated or prone to failure, everything tried out well in advance. Have more than one person, if possible, so illness doesn't derail your plans or animal care.
Some written instructions, phone numbers, anything to make it easier for the sitter.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

We have friends who also have chickens, horses, and other critters, so we help each other for these events.
Always have a backup plan!
I took a friend's horse to the University on Thanksgiving one year, couldn't reach her by phone, but he needed emergency care. He had an eye injury, and I called the on-call in the morning. We agreed to each hustle through Thanksgiving dinner (mine at my house!) and meet in late afternoon. It worked, the eye was saved, and she did pay the vet bill.
Next time, we all made sure we had all the phone numbers needed!
Mary

 

[toredano]

Thank you all

I did find a heated 3 gallon chicken waterer at TSC.. so thats what I am going to use for them..

problem solved