Tired of pine shavings.

[Hegatha]

Everytime I clean the water out the pine shavings get back in the water. What other beddings can I use. Pellets?

 

[clairabean]

Any bedding you use will get in the water. At least shavings are not going to look like something yummy to a chick. You can try putting the waterer in a container to make it higher.

Chicks are messy creatures.

 

[FrizzlesRule]

Bedding will always get in the water if chicks are active. I've often wondered how my bantams' little legs can make such a mess.

 

[AKsmama]

Try elevating the waterer to the height of their backs. Sometimes that helps, but I really don't think there's any way to keep any bedding out of a small chick base waterer. They're gonna run all through it no matter what.

 

[Judy]

You can try putting your brick or whatever you're elevating the water on, on a paper plate or similar item, so the shavings that they scratch have to travel a little farther to make it to the waterer. Won't solve the problem, just make it a little less messy.

 

[catchthewind]

We use nipple waterers in both our brooders and I'll never look back now. So much cleaner. With a regular waterer, even elevated, and pine shavings, I was literally having to clean out pine shavings every hour or so.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You can also make the water station a high platform. If the water is up a step to the drinking platform, you'll have much less of what is bothering you. It still isn't perfect, as yes, they'll even poop in their water. Chicks will be chicks.

 

[AlienChick]

We had a little shelving unit that we weren't using, so I placed the food/water on top of that.

They have to step up to eat and drink and the shavings seem to fall through the cracks of the shelf.

 

[petunias212]

last year when we got our chicks from my pet chicken i absolutely loved the nesting material they used in the shipping box...i asked them what it was and where they got it from...it's Great Lakes Aspen fibers and they attach or glue them to brown paper cut in squares which come in different sizes... - i love it...i line the bottom of the brooder with it and don't have to mess with the whole paper towel thing or shavings....find it in the "Laying Nests, Chicken Tractors, and Coops" Department. They come in bundled packs - and it's all I use. No more shavings in the water... you can go to www.eggscarton.com for the nesting pads.

Now, if I can only get them to stop pooping in their own water!

But I agree with the posters who recommended raising the water off the floor -

 

[Hegatha]

Thanks guess ill ry elevating it but some of the chicks are tiny so cant elevate it to much right now!!! I cant believe how much they throw in there in just a little time.