putting rocks/marbles in water bowls

[grullablue]

When we raised chicks last spring, they were already a week old when we got them, so I introduced them straight to a small waterer. We are ordering day-olds this year, so I'm wondering about what I've read about putting rocks or marbles in their water to keep them from drowning themselves. Is this just for the first couple days, or how long?

Angie

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
I generally do it for a week or so and then have a small chick sized waterer.

 

[ghulst]

If you use chick waterers you don't need to do that.

 

[grullablue]

Oh...I see. I do have a little chick waterer. Just the little "mason jar" type waterer. I was thinking I'd not be able to use that at first....but the surface area is small, and it of course isn't deep, so I'm safe using it for day-olds then?

Angie

 

[digitS']

Angie, I continue to keep pebbles in the water until they are past that awkward stage where they fall over and have some trouble getting back up - a couple weeks.

I had a chick drown upside down in one of those mason jar waterers. He wasn't really under the water but he couldn't get out. That was years ago but you only need to have that experience once to become a "pebbles in the water" person.

Steve

 

[chicken_dude]

Its rare for standard size chicks to drown even day old. I have had some bantams pheasants and quail drown.

 

[baldie]

digitS' :

Angie, I continue to keep pebbles in the water until they are past that awkward stage where they fall over and have some trouble getting back up - a couple weeks.

I had a chick drown upside down in one of those mason jar waterers. He wasn't really under the water but he couldn't get out. That was years ago but you only need to have that experience once to become a "pebbles in the water" person.

Steve

That happened to me once also. What happened is it's feather's got so wet it couldn't get out. It was a day old chick.

 

[grullablue]

Thank you for the input! I see it's better to be safe than sorry.... so I'll do it anyway!

Angie

 

[hinkjc]

Good idea Angie. If in doubt, err on the side of caution. Personally, I don't use it for large fowl chicks. For bantams, pheasant, quail and turkeys, I always use the marbles.

 

[wings]

I had a chick waterer and used it with my twelve standard sized chicks when they were two days old. We never had a problem.