Tired of pine shavings.

[SIMPleChick]

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I have my food raised in a large bowl, so they can't kick it out, and I raised the waterer about an inch. I have been through 4 sets of brand new chicks with everything elevated and they get to everything without a problem. I dip their beaks when I first get them and place them near the food so they know where everything is.

I have also taken legal boxes, box tops, flipped them over and filled them with pine shavings, so they can't kick so much everywhere. Even the new chicks can jump in! I love this set up!

 

[Happycowdog]

I got two big bricks from outside and put them in the cage and placed the bowls on top of those. Those pine shavings get on my nerves too! My goodness I can't wait until I can put those chicks outside! We have a problem with them scratching and making the pines shavings get outside of the cage. We put cardboard on the sides, but it sure doesn't help with the front door of the cage! Everyday sweep ups required! Gads!! My chicks just hit the four-week age. It will be awhile before they can go out.

 

[felidaet]

I put my waterer and feeder on 2 x r4 scraps of wood. Last year I used pine pellets instead of pine shavings. It worked great! I definetly will use pine pellets instead of pine shavings in the future when I raise chicks.

 

[aceoftrumps]

You can also try a quail waterer base....it doesn't gather as much stuff as the regular waterer. Of course, mine is elevated on a piece of scrap 2x4 also.

Kurt

 

[f8thnjc]

I've also see lots of people use water bottles.

 

[ChickenCrazy4ever]

We are currently keeping our chicks in a box. To keep them from climbing in the water we cut a whole in the box about 2 inches off the floor and elevated the water so they could stick their heads through and that's it. We did the same with the feeder. However that does NOT stop them from dirtying the water especially right after I change the pine shaving as they like to scratch at and eat them. I cannot figure out why.

 

[f8thnjc]

Quote:
Great Idea!!!

 

[AnaD]

Soft pine needles