Messy little chicks!

[mylittlefarmhouse]

Hi All,

I have always gotten my hens as ready to lay but this year I bought 7 cute little 5 week olds. They are so adorable and way more friendly and trusting than new ready to lay hens so I'm truly enjoying them however, they are very busy little girls scratching the ground and kicking up straw constantly and as a result their water is always filled with straw and I'm having to change it 4-5 times a day. The same thing happens to their food. I am using these for food and water. I currently have these on the floor in the coop for easy access because when I put these up on cinder blocks like I do for my full grown hens they couldn't find their food and water. Is there something better, maybe more age appropriate that I should be using to make my life, and theirs a bit easier?

 

[sourland]

I'd try something smaller than cinder blocks to elevate the feed and water. At 5 weeks old they should be able to eat/drink from elevated feeders and waterers.

 

[mylittlefarmhouse]

I'd try something smaller than cinder blocks to elevate the feed and water. At 5 weeks old they should be able to eat/drink from elevated feeders and waterers.

Okay thank you!!

 

[mylittlefarmhouse]

Okay thank you!!

Curious if you can tell me at what age do these little girls begin to roost? I set up a natural branch roost about 6 inches from the floor when we got them last week but have not seen them on it yet.

 

[chickens really]

I use rubber livestock bowls and have the water up on bricks.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Curious if you can tell me at what age do these little girls begin to roost? I set up a natural branch roost about 6 inches from the floor when we got them last week but have not seen them on it yet.

I get day old chicks and put a branch in the brooder before a week old.

My girls at 5 weeks.

Are they in the coop? If they are, You may have to put them on the roost after dark. GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

Bricks are a pretty good height to put things on... I have bricks in the coop and run for all sorts of things.

As far as roosting, they can start as early as 2-3 weeks if a hen shows them, otherwise it can stretch out quite a lot longer.

 

[Jenthehen127]

My littles were the same! I switched them to a nipple watered. So much better! They seem to do OK eating from a smaller hanging feeder. I couldn't keep anything clean on the ground or a brick!

 

[Joken]

I just posted this in response to another question on this forum.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/attachments/img_4614-jpg.2136232/

 

[2Old2Crow]

We tried that feeder on our first go around, but the chicks would climb all over it and constantly poop in their food. We went to the gravity feeder and no poop. We use a whole lot less starter crumble now, although I have to clean the shavings out a lot.