Watering Woes!!

[Counting chickens]

I started out with a shallow dish (< 1 inch) for my chicks, which worked well, but ran out quickly and got nasty.
Since then I have used the standard large plastic waterer, (round, red and clear) (gets nasty)
They could not activate the cups, and don't need to understand the horizontal nipples.
And I'm scared to force the issue, as I don't want them to get dehydrated.
They are now about 2 weeks old, and under cover, indoors, no freeze danger.

Any suggestions?

 

[AlleysChicks]

Get a normal waterer and set it up on bricks. You want it high enough that they won’t kick stuff in it but low enough they can still drink.

 

[Counting chickens]

Get a normal waterer and set it up on bricks. You want it high enough that they won’t kick stuff in it but low enough they can still drink.

That's what I did, but was just using 1x4 lumber, sooo much crap kicked into the water...

 

[AlleysChicks]

That's what I did, but was just using 1x4 lumber, sooo much crap kicked into the water...

can you set it up higher? And maybe have a little step the can get onto? When I brood I just use the little waterer and dump the shavings out 2x a day.

 

[oregonkat]

You've got healthy active messy chicks. My chick waterer needs changing twice a day and elevating it is a must as you have discovered. I moved the water and food in my brooder to the very end, put them both up on bricks so the chicks had to hop up on the bricks out of the bedding. That way they did not kick up quite so much mess. Hope that helps as little.

 

[Counting chickens]

Thanks, I'll change it tonight.
Do they have to be grown for the nipples and cups?

 

[Folly's place]

I gradually raise it up on bricks or whatever, making a platform, so it stays less messy. It gets rinsed daily, and works well. Chickens are messy! They don't care what lands in the waterer, so just keep it 'good enough' and don't worry about it.
Mary

 

[oregonkat]

Thanks, I'll change it tonight.
Do they have to be grown for the nipples and cups?

I have not tried the nipples but as far as I understand, the chicks figure them out. One caveat about them though is that I think they leak. Not sure but maybe check first.

 

[blackdog043]

Put a piece of plywood on top of 2 x 3 or 4 on there side and make a platform. They should be able to use horizontal nipples also. After 3 weeks I made this pitcher for my brooder.

 

[Mamacast]

Put a piece of plywood on top of 2 x 3 or 4 on there side and make a platform. They should be able to use horizontal nipples also. After 3 weeks I made this pitcher for my brooder.
View attachment 1263581
View attachment 1263582

you have pictures of two waterers, do you use both? I was just thinking I would have the horizontal side chicken waterers for my quail, do you think that will work?