Hi!
My new flock of chicks (7 Silkies in 4 colors, 4 Americana, 3 Brahma standards in 3 colors) is about 2 weeks old. They don't seem to poop in their food much but the water can be contaminated a few minutes after I have carefully washed it and changed the water. I do this several times a day, but there is no negotiating with them!
I'm looking at other types of water-er designs but even if I purchase one today it would probably be 2 weeks before it arrived. We live in a small town. Does any one have any suggestions? I can not sit with them all day and night, no matter how much I love them (and I do) or how cute they are!
Here's what I've tried:
1. Asking them nicely to consider the benefits of basic hygene (I think the pea-sized brains present a challenge for this approach).
2. Raising the water-er. I put it up high on a flipped over little plastic bin and it didn't get contaminated - but I don't think they drank from it either. Could not risk dehydrating the babies, so brought it back down. Did raise it on a couple of wood peices, but it still gets contaminated, plus sometimes they push it off and some water spills which I don't think is good for them.
The other question I have around this is: what will happen to them if they continue to drink from water that has a bit of poop in it? Are they destined to get sick or even die? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks in advance for any help. I know this must be a common occurance, but I can't seem to figure out an answer.
My new flock of chicks (7 Silkies in 4 colors, 4 Americana, 3 Brahma standards in 3 colors) is about 2 weeks old. They don't seem to poop in their food much but the water can be contaminated a few minutes after I have carefully washed it and changed the water. I do this several times a day, but there is no negotiating with them!
I'm looking at other types of water-er designs but even if I purchase one today it would probably be 2 weeks before it arrived. We live in a small town. Does any one have any suggestions? I can not sit with them all day and night, no matter how much I love them (and I do) or how cute they are!
Here's what I've tried:
1. Asking them nicely to consider the benefits of basic hygene (I think the pea-sized brains present a challenge for this approach).
2. Raising the water-er. I put it up high on a flipped over little plastic bin and it didn't get contaminated - but I don't think they drank from it either. Could not risk dehydrating the babies, so brought it back down. Did raise it on a couple of wood peices, but it still gets contaminated, plus sometimes they push it off and some water spills which I don't think is good for them.
The other question I have around this is: what will happen to them if they continue to drink from water that has a bit of poop in it? Are they destined to get sick or even die? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks in advance for any help. I know this must be a common occurance, but I can't seem to figure out an answer.