New chicken keeper - deep litter plus waterer equals a big mess!

[biddyboo]

We do deep litter in both our raised coop and indoor pen; last winter I kept water in the indoor pen, set on a heated base. The idea was good, but I struggled with the messy water issue all winter long, mold-yuck. This winter I plan to put their heated base and large waterer outdoor in their run. Rarely do we have weather so bad that they cannot get out to drink. If we get into an ice storm or other awful weather, I'll move it back in temporarily. We keep a heated water bowl outdoors for our dog and that works all winter long, so should work for the hens as well. I do keep feed available to them in the indoor pen year round. ~G

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Quote:

grit and oyster shell/eggshells: I use a tuna can screwed to the wall of the coop/run...one for each...refill when they get low. I do provide grit since mine do not free-range.

My feeder is from TSC....holds 10#'s of feed, hangs, white/red, gravity feed, tray has dividers that helps with the problem of them billing out so much.

Waterer: I have a kitty litter bucket with 4 nipple waterers in the bottom. This hangs from the ceiling so no shavings, etc. in the water. I'm also working on a water where they can dip their bill but not soil the water with the sand from the coop/run...I do not use shavings.

 

[Eglyntine]

Heya Vikingchicken,

I got my birds kind of on the fly before I got my Coop built, they were free so I could not pass up the opportunity. It was late in the afternoon and the closest feed and seed is over in North Valleys so I stopped by PetSmart and bought a clearance set of dog auto-feed and waterer and then I just put mine up like this to keep them out of the dirt.

Every morning and afternoon I just go out check on the water and if it's got any dust or anything I just swish the waterer out with a garden hose so they have clean water and viola clean water. Maybe once a day does it really seem to need it. I do not give them tap water so having the removable water jug is pretty convenient having to lug it back and forth to fill it up. Once I get the Coop built I'll get the galvanized hanging feeder and I'll probably keep the waterer just for the convenience but maybe I'll come up with a better setup. We had the galvanized waterer in Maine (-25F on a typical winter day) and we never had a problem with freezing but it's a little bulky to haul inside to fill up. heh It always stayed nice and warm in the coop so we didn't have to buy heaters or anything.

Side Note of personal preference I guess: We always kept the oyster shells in a separate hanging feeder and they took what they needed.

 

[Beekissed]

My method of dispensing oyster shell? I plop that bag down in the coop, rip off the top and....well....that's about it. The chickens just take it from there.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
X2
That's what I do!

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

I started day one in the brooder box with nipples in the bottom of an old plastic quart thermos. The day old chicks had no problem with them and I've never had to worry about them soiling the water. Now that they are outside I have a 5 gal bucket with a lid that I have nipples in the bottom. They never leak and I don't have any problem with dirty water or water in the coop. I absolutely love them and would recommend them to everyone who would ask.

 

[Eglyntine]

Quote:
I do not think I have ever heard of waterers like this, is there a thread some where that shows what you mean? This sounds really cool.

 

[jeb251]

there are several threads on nipple waterers just do a search and you will get all kinds of good info

 

[roymchll]

I tried a plastic pan first, but have since learned. I put a milk crate on top of the litter upside down and have the waterer on top of that. They can either jump up to drink, or just walk over and reach a little. Much cleaner. Good luck.