QUICK...... Please show me your waterers for baby chicks.

[jimmywalt]

This is our 2nd year of raising baby chicks. We have 2 new babies (just got them today).

Last year when we got our chicks (5 of them) I used the standard old waterer (like the plastic red/white) one attached. It was a TOTAL PAIN in the rear to keep clean, empty and refill as they chicks lived in our basement in a large lawnmower box (brooder) for about 12 weeks.

I then read about nipple waterers (at about 12 weeks of age) and I made a few (see attached pictures of water bottle with nipple).

But these chicks can't even be 7 days old yet, so I'm certain they couldn't figure out the nipple waterer, so I have the big old messy red/white thing in the brooder box.

I'd love to see any ideas of CHEAP waterers that you have purchased or made yourself for baby chicks. I will probably only need it for the next 4 to 6 weeks (until they catch on to the nipple waterer), so I don't really want to spend any money on something for so short of a time.

Post your pictures/instructions...... and ideas if you would. Thank you!

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I used just a small red/white waterer for 6 chicks and never had problems (I think it held a qt). I placed it on top of small Tupperware dishes so they couldn't just walk right into the water. I've seen some people just use a flat dish filled with marbles so the chicks can't drowned

Hope you find something that'll work great for you!

 

[Aacre]

I used a plastic soda bottle (20 OZ.) with a water nipple on it just like your Gatorade one. I doubted that my newly hatched day old chicks could learn it, but when I showed them to peck food to eat and to peck the nipple to drink water, they all got it RIGHT AWAY. It took a little practice to learn not to peck it so long that multiple drops rolled out, but by golly! They are a lot smarter than people give them credit for. I plan to use only nipple waterers with baby chicks, as this really lessens the chance of drowning and it keeps the water clean!