Stop chicks from getting bedding in their water

[Want Less]

We started using the water nipples a few batches back and I swear by them now... no more dirty water, and at a young age they figure it out within minutes. We only change out/refill our water every few days now, whereas before it was several times a day.

 

[heathersboers]

**** tip for baby ducks***** pie pans are wonderful under waterers....

 

[Eggcessive]

I have been brooding my chicks (2 batches) for 6 weeks. The older ones finally graduated to the coop last week, but my younger ones still like to jump on the waterers and dive off then turn them over. I finally started using clay saucers that go under flower pots turned upside down to place under them. The larger ones work best--they hold the waterer in place and kkep most of the shaving out. Today we found one of the 6 week olds in the coop run with its foot caught in the handle of a big 5 gallon galvanized waterer lying there limp--she had given up after not getting her foot out--luckily we found her in time and she is fine, but I learned to not leave them on the ground any more with the handle down.

 

[bartchick]

I have found that hanging the waterer and feeder at a height about even with the middle of their backs works great, very little bedding and no poop in the water or feed. I started out with a game bird/quail waterer (smaller drinking area, small rim) on wooden blocks, then after 1 week switched over to a regular hanging waterer. I put marbles in the drinking area to keep them from falling in and drowning. Third batch is going strong and so far no losses and nice clean water. Also, we add organic apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon of per gallon of water) to their water from day one. Several different sources report this to be very good for them. Good luck

 

[bartchick]

I forgot to mention... when hanging the waterers and feeders, we put them on rope/twine with 2 feet of light chain at the bottom end and put a hook on the bail, then to adjust height just go up or down a link or two. With the young-uns getting into the top of the feeders or caught on the bails, we added a removable cover made from old large throw-away nursery plant pots udspide down over the bails with the hanging line threaded through a hole in the middle. No more birds or poop in the food and none getting hurt on the bails.

 

[audioguy]

I'm also a newbie and found that after the chicks were one week old I was able to use raise the waterer using a brick under it. As they are now almost 4 weeks old, I have raised it again by adding a few small blocks of wood under the water. Its raised enough for them to drink and no more poop in the water.

Not sure what I'm going to do when they move to the coop. I might hang the food and water under the coop so they come out to eat and drink, making the coop less messy.

I guess I will experiment and see what works!

 

[aubreynoramarie]

i found a solution that litterally kept every speck of shavings out of the water. I bought a rabbit litter pan like this one...

and put a brick on the grates. the chicks would jump onto the grates knocking and shavings from their feet into the pan, then drink freely from the raised waterer. i im so stinking proud of myself for this one.

 

[Waddling_Wamplers]

Great Idea... we finally just put the feeder and waterer up on bowls. it makes the chicks stretch their necks up to eat/drink, but it does keep their food and water cleaner.

 

[fifenashia]

Quote:
We have our waterer and feeder hanging outside in the run area and it makes a HUGE difference in the messiness of the actual coop part.

 

[audioguy]

Quote:
We have our waterer and feeder hanging outside in the run area and it makes a HUGE difference in the messiness of the actual coop part.

My only issue happens when the weather turns freezing cold. I need to think of a way to keep the water, uh water in the winter. I found a birdbath heater at a Petco by me for $7 on the clearance rack and thought that would be a great idea to put into a 5 gallon bucket and hang it. Good idea, right? The water will stay warm, but the nipple feeders will freeze since they are outside the bucket.
Any suggestions from those in the north??