Anybody have any ideas as to how we can keep the shavings out of food and water? They get so full that when we get home from work they can't get food or water. We only have 6 chicks, 4 are 3 1/2 weeks, 2 are 1 1/2 weeks but they are in a smallish brooder (18" x 32"). We a perch mounted diagonally in a corner and a second small branch as well so there isn't much room in there for scratching but man, can they move those shavings around. I am concerned that if I raise the food up too much the smaller 2 won't be able to reach in. Ideas?
I put my waterer on a brick after a week or so. Even if they can't reach directly into the water, they can hop up on the brick and then reach the water.
What they said!! I also use one of my feed pans turned upside down. If its larger than the waterer there is room for them to hop up and drink!
Set the feeder on a brick and use a water bottle for water. Chicks will drink out of a water bottle even easier than a dish so long as you don't use too large of bottle for really small bantam chicks.
I Couldn't stand the wood shavings getting in the food and water either. I tried elevating them but they still got some up there. So I put in a new 1/4"X1/4" wire bottom and am using the rabbit catch pan for the wood shavings & droppings. Much better for me. .
I have the same problem with the shavings! We have 29 chicks in a 4' x 8' brooder with two waterers (similar to the pic in the post above). One is on a 2x8...the other on the shavings. My chicks are only 10-days old, so I can't get too high, but then I realized it doesn't matter. A few of the chicks scratch around and wood shavings completely clear the top of the water bottle! I'd have to put the feeder a foot in the air to prevent wood shavings from getting in it. Oh well...guess I know what I am doing several times a day for the next 2-3 weeks!
