Red Plastic bases on feeders and waterers?

[Chopaka81]

OK another newbie question.
Are the chicks drawn to the color red? is this why the waterer's and feeders are this color? Wonder if I made a bad choice going with a galvenized feeder and waterer? The chicks avoided them at first but seem to be getting used them now - I hope.

First night home, I think they are a little culture shocked going do to just the three of them from a feed troff with 30+ chicks at the feed store.

Chopaka

 

[Celtic Chick]

Yes, chickens are attracted to the color red.
If they are new, it will take a little while for them to get into the swing of things.
If the chicks aren't drinking, be sure to dip each of their beaks in the water so they know where it is.

 

[monsterkx500]

I bought galvenized feeder too. Maybe we can paint them red?

 

[briteday]

Galvanized or red...they'll do fine. Just be sure they can find the food and water. Atfer that they'll be little piggies and you will find out how fast they an empty those feeders and waterers!

 

[gryeyes]

I started with galvanized waterers and feeders too. Gradually I changed to the plastic waterers because some medications react with the metal and destroys their effectiveness. Also, you don't want to put organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - or even non-organic! - into anything metal.

 

[aggie9296]

I have feeders with red plastic, purple plastic, and galvanized metal bases. They do not have a preference and eat out of all three.

 

[Chopaka81]

Quote:
OK keep in mind I am a newbie, why would you want to give chickens ACV?
Thanks, Chopaka

 

[snowflake]

ACV is supposed to be good for their digestive system (I think), it also does a great job of keeping the algae off the waterer

 

[Chopaka81]

I am going thru this thread right now:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=129278&p=1

Quit frankly, I do not know a darn thing about poultry and this thread is spooking me.

Chopaka

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is spooking you about it? Keeping chickens is a lot like keeping any other animal. You provide them with the basics of food, shelter, and reasonably sanitary living conditions. The only reason I say reasonable is that you cannot follow any of them around with a pooper scooper all the time, including dogs, and the chickens seem to prefer to drink from mud puddles instead of clean waterers.

Other than when you clean the coop out, which for me is about once every two years, they are less daily work for me than the cat. I feed, water, collect eggs, let them out in the morning and lock them up at night. Occasionally I clean the waterer, rinsing it when it gets dirty or washing it in a bleach solution when it starts to turn green.

Animal ownership is a responsibility. Any animal.