THEY HAVE SHIPPED!

[SMonroe1990]

I may just have to get me some of those and make one. How do you train a chicken to use them and how hard is it to train like 3 month old birds to use them?

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Take their normal water drinker away and put the new one in. They will naturally peck the shiny metal stem and figure out that it gives water. Just watch a while to make sure the not as bright ones figure it out. They take to it quickly. Mine are in coops with 2 liter water bottles and the nipples are installed in the caps. We made baling twine holders to torn the bottles upside down. Drill a small air hole in the bottle for air.

 

[SMonroe1990]

Thank you so much for the advice. I am going to have to invest in some of these. Now any ideas how to get them to keep wood shavings out of the feed holder?

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Thank you so much for the advice.  I am going to have to invest in some of these.  Now any ideas how to get them to keep wood shavings out of the feed holder?

I use a small 3lb hanging feeder.

 

[SMonroe1990]

I don't have anywhere to hang a feeder in their brooder. In the coop I do have a hanging feeder and I love it, it works wonders. But my four week old chicks are too small to go out in the coop with the bigger girls and I have yet to find a way to get them to keep shavings out of the feed in the brooder. I wish I had a way to hang a feeder in the brooder, but unless I go putting a hole into the wall I don't have a way.

 

[lightchick]

Chickmom sorry about the loss of your baby. It's really hard especially when you have to put them down yourself.

bltchicken sorry to hear that your little one didn't make it. I was really hopeful after you said that she was starting to act a bit better. And sorry I can't help I.D. your mystery chicks.

So I don't know about anyone else's chicks, but mine like to get wood shavings in their water and feeder. Both are up on a small piece of two by four to elevate them, but they still somehow find a way. Anyone have any helpful suggestions? I am starting to dislike the smell of wet chicken shavings and I know they are too small to put out with the bigger girls yet, even though tomorrow I am starting the play pen method with them. I figure if i do that for a week or two then they should be roughly the same size as my EE's and able to put them out there.

Xiao, your chicks are so cute. One of your EE's looks just like one of mine did and the other one, the more brown one, I can't wait to see how that one feathers out. I'll have to take some pictures of my girls later when I go in to check on them again. My SLW is starting to get silver on her head and neck and my poor brahma is still a really ugly teenager. I feel so bad for that poor chick.

I use a largish piece of plywood and put them on that. It really works. When they get older their kicking abilities increase and I had a rabbit waterer for them and that works really well.
You can see the plywood in this pic.

 

[SMonroe1990]

Thanks lightchick. I think mine might just be too big right now and no matter what I do it's just going to be a time consuming task of making sure their food and water is always clean for the next couple weeks. Hopefully though in about two weeks or so they will be out in the coop with their sisters and I wont have to worry about this. I may try a small piece of plywood to balance their food and water on, maybe if I do that and its wide enough it wont get as bad as fast.

 

[lightchick]

Wow. I really miss baby chicks! The two in the pic above are already 16 weeks!!

 

[SMonroe1990]

I know. I may say that changing the water and feed all the time is a hassle, but yet I would order more next week if my DH would let me. I did convince him to let me get a few ducks next year though so I'm super excited about that. I know ducks are messier, but ducklings are so cute. Plus I hear duck eggs are really good for baking and I love to bake and eat baked goods so I wouldn't mind trying duck eggs in my baking.

 

[lightchick]

I thought you said you wouldn't want ducks? I think ducklings are sooooo adorable!