New waterer issues

[88sub4x4]

So I've been using a store bought waterer for two weeks and it's constantly filled with shavings and poop despite cleaning it many times a day. So I made a waterer with a five gallon bucket and nipples and placed it on a stand. The chicks seem to afraid of it and won't go near it. I even picked a few up and put them under it and touched their beak to the nipple so they'd learn that it had water. No luck. Am I doing something wrong? Are they too young for this? Any advise is appreciated. I'm trying to add a pic of the setup but can't figure it out.

 

[azygous]

They'll get the hang of it. Just be patient and keep teaching them where the water is.

 

[drewskimac]

My best advice: Use sand for bedding. It never smells bad. (unless youre raising ducklings.. then it smells HORRIBLE.) When the chicks kick a few grains of sand into the waterer, it simply sinks to the bottom. (rather than somehow absorbing the entire waterer like a shaving does). I'm not really sure how the sand doesn't clog up the water, but does an incredible job absorbing the poop/piss

Beats me. All I know is that I've tried many different bedding and sand is the best for me.

 

[csaylorchickens]

My best advice: Use sand for bedding. It never smells bad. (unless youre raising ducklings.. then it smells HORRIBLE.) When the chicks kick a few grains of sand into the waterer, it simply sinks to the bottom. (rather than somehow absorbing the entire waterer like a shaving does). I'm not really sure how the sand doesn't clog up the water, but does an incredible job absorbing the poop/piss   Beats me. All I know is that I've tried many different bedding and sand is the best for me. 

Rofl! Poop/piss just made me laugh haha I dunno why haha

I need to try sand because pine shavings are driving me nuts

 

[ChristieB]

Raise the waterer off the ground, put it on a brick or something,

 

[manychitlens]

It's not too early. I put a traditional waterer into the brooder for the first few days, but also have a nipple waterer in there. After a few days, once I was sure they all understood how to use the nipples, I was able to take the other one out. SO MUCH BETTER. They'll get it, eventually one will be brave enough to try and the others will follow suit. I do also use sand so it wasn't all that messy, but they still managed to poop in the traditional waterer about 5 seconds after I would clean it.

 

[drewskimac]

Rofl! Poop/piss just made me laugh haha I dunno why haha

I need to try sand because pine shavings are driving me nuts

LOL, glad to entertain you!

Yeah, I would HIGHLY recommend the sand. Try it out, it'll make your life a whole lot easier!

 

[lukemower]

I had the same problem when I raised chicks. I had to clean it every day. the first day I didn't raise it and all the water kept disappearing, I thought they were drinking a lot. I figured out that it was just spilling in the bedding, oops

I put it on a brick and that fixed it.

 

[Spartan22]

Agreed with the brick flatform, I keep on raising them as they get taller which is almost every week

. Kind of just the level of their backs so they can't kick shavings or step on it. I still give them water once a day making sure they're fresh.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Agreed with the brick flatform, I keep on raising them as they get taller which is almost every week

. Kind of just the level of their backs so they can't kick shavings or step on it. I still give them water once a day making sure they're fresh.

- Yeppers - I have several pavers that I use to keep building the platform as they grow, works like a charm.