Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[VillageChicken]

Okay all you chicken geniuses who don't brood on wire mesh. How do you keep your chicks from scratching the shavings up into whatever you have their water in? Surely not everyone uses a hamster type waterer for their chicks. Just trying to eliminate some of the minor annoyances of hatching and growing out chicks. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Debbi]

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Morning! I put my waterer on a block of wood. 2x4 when they are little, and a 4x4 piece when they get bigger. Helps some, but they still manage to get the shavings in there.

There are those pipe waterers you can make with PVC pipe, or the nipple type waterers where you fill one bucket to water several brooders. I just clean out the waterer 3 times a day for now.

 

[Hens and Roos]

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Morning! I put my waterer on a block of wood. 2x4 when they are little, and a 4x4 piece when they get bigger. Helps some, but they still manage to get the shavings in there.

There are those pipe waterers you can make with PVC pipe, or the nipple type waterers where you fill one bucket to water several brooders. I just clean out the waterer 3 times a day for now.

x2 but I make my kids clean the waterers! DH and I do the 3 gal ones as they are to heavy when filled for the kids to carry. DH was looking into the pipe waterers to see what that would take- to busy to get to far on though

 

[snowbird]

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Dh wants to know how many birds you have that need to be vaccinated and how old are they ?

Lisa, I might have overlooked this in your post but ypu should check for a TAKE about 8-9 days after vaccinating, should have a small scab or the vaccine did not TAKE and should be repeated . The tool should be run completely through the wing web for best results. Don

 

[pinkchick]

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Hi VC!

I use 2 bricks and a 12" x 12" ceramic tile. The tile and the bricks can be easily washed off and disinfected in between hatches.

 

[Keara]

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I elevate the water on blocks but mack sure there is a step up to the waterer so the chicks can reach it.

 

[Debbi]

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Hi VC!

I use 2 bricks and a 12" x 12" ceramic tile. The tile and the bricks can be easily washed off and disinfected in between hatches.

Mornin' Pink! I like that idea. When I get a much larger brooder set up, that sounds like the way to go!

 

[pinkchick]

Morning!

How is everyone today? Congrats to those who have just hatched out chicks and lots of luck still going out to those who are still hatching. I have pips and peeps happening this morning and should have more pips and peeps happening on Sunday. I will be happy to take a small summer break from hatching when it finally happens. I haven't turned my Sportsman off since I got it.

Keara~ Didn't you just have a hatch happen? How many chickies did you end up with total?

Thanks, Debbi. I love how Keara brought up the step for the babies to go up to as well....once when I wasn't using the bricks and was using something taller than the brick the chicks couldn't get up to it so that is when I thought about the bricks. The height allows them to just hop right on up. I felt horrible the one time that they couldn't get to their food and water for what had to be about 24 hours. If I had a mind like Keara I would have made a step for them.

 

[Debbi]

Yes, the step is a great idea. I've got 14 eggs going into lockdown today, so hopefully, will have a weekend hatch as well!

 

[Debbi]

Do any of you use "chicken aprons" on your pullets/hens? Do they work well? Do the roos pull them off? My poor pullets are looking awful!!

It's quite obvious who the favorite girl is!