Marbles in water

[NickyPick]

Ok, I've read here that you should put marbles in the chicks water to prevent them from drowning. I have those small red waterers, so I'm having a hard time seeing how a chick could get in to drown, but I got some shiny aquarium rocks to put in. How long should I keep the marbles in the water?

 

[dsqard]

From what I have read, only the first week. Once they have gotten better coordination, it should be safe. I read about one BYCer's chick drowning in the water tray in her incubator so it doesn't take much.

 

[deerman]

No need unless they are quail chicks ,or chicks that small........normal size chicken chicks NO NEED FOR MARBLES...if very small chicks like quail ,they make waterers for them also.

 

[babyrnlc]

Thank you for this post! I put marbles in the first month for my other chicks and still have them in my 2 week chick!

I guess I can go take the marbles out lol!

 

[NickyPick]

Ah, good to hear. My chicks are 6 days old today and they're starting to make the water messy. It's more time consuming to clean out with the marbles. Heh - I got up this morning and 3 were sleeping on their stick roost. They are definitely getting better balance and coordination!

 

[goatranch]

I will never again forget to put marbles in the water!!! I lost about 15 chicks in just a few minutes time a very costly and heartbreaking lesson to learn. I use the one gallon screw top with the red base. I added the large shiny marbles for floral arranging.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
I guess , need to use chick water base, ........never lost a single chick with them, I have raised thousands. no one drown in the water.


Proper water base, guess if someone has those deep chicken water , for sure need to make it shallow some how.

 

[nuttyredhead]

For my first batch i used the gallon plastic one, not a problem, I got my lf girls at 1 week. But with my bantams i hatched I used the chick base. I can see how they could drowned in the bigger one. I just switched them to the bigger waterer at 2 1/2 weeks. Mama kept standing on the waterer and spilling it!

 

[Momagain1]

had no clue; but they are 1 wk old today and one fell asleep with its side inthe water; but other than that...they were good!!

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Yes i would think more chicks get wet from spilled water ,or leaking waterers , than getting into the waterer. Onces wet they die from chilling.

Bantam some breed are small ,could use quail waterer.


Edit to add , i keep waterers block up a little depend on chick size how high, this also helps keep the litter out. Also would keep one just laying on the base.