wet under waterer

[Anny]

I use a hanging waterer, it doesn't leak but the hens bump into it all the time causing it to swing and spill water in to the pine bedding, how do I keep this from happening. I have to hung so it's level with their backs. It's currently hanging from a chain and an S hook.

 

[roosmom]

Hi Anny, I am just guessing here. Just an idea ya know.
What if you.....took three more S hooks and draped them equidistantly around the water tray, then take three "same length" pcs of chain or rope and put those on the S hooks also. Then taking the three pcs down to the floor underneath the tray, you would slip them onto a single cup hook? So you have it hanging from the ceiling, it will then be anchored to the floor so it only moves a bit.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Just set it on the ground on a large piece of plywood, that way it keeps the shavings far enough away that they can't scratch the shavings into the water.

Or set it on top of a concrete cinder block.

 

[Anny]

Quote:
The waterer is inside the coop (which is filled with shavings) I'd really rather not put it out side

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
The waterer is inside the coop (which is filled with shavings) I'd really rather not put it out side

If it is raised high enough above the shavings and on a piece of plywood, there will be very very few shavings kicked in, honest.

I find that putting the plywood directly on the shavings makes my waterers a little insecure and tippy -- this is probably just me -- so I have built little platforms for the plywood, using stacks of scrap wood, so that the plywood is at or slightly above the level of the top of the bedding, and the waterer sits on *another* stack of wood or bricks on *that*. I wish I had a picture but I don't generally go round photographing my waterers, sorry

waterer!
__OOOOOOO___
....................................OOOOOOOOOOO.............................
__________________OOOOOOOOOOO__________________

If that makes any sense?

Pat

 

[vermontgal]

For my 4 chickens, I am still using the "Mason jar" waterer that I got for them as chicks. I read somewhere (Gail Damerow?) that it is a good idea to keep the water at the height of the chicken's backs, to keep droppings, shavings, etc. out of the water.

I have the mason jar waterer perched on top of a 8" garden pot (such as you buy perennials in). The pot is filled to within 1" of the brim with rocks - this keeps the pot from tipping over and gives the waterer a depression to sit down in.

I am about to switch to a heated (hanging?) waterer and after reading this thread I may try to replicate my current system with a pail for the larger heated waterer.

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

I keep my waterer sitting on the kind of plastic carriers they deliver soda bottles in. It's shorter than a milk crate and more stable with two of them side by side. Any splashes go straight down to sand and not into bedding. I tried the hanging water but my kids...well, anyone who's been around kids can guess.

 

[willheveland]

In the winter when I put their water inside on a heated fount base.I put one of those pans you put under a water heater(in case of leaks)this even catches the drops off their beaks from soaking the floor.I put shavings in it too to soak up the water and they can walk on it too. Will

 

[lilchick]

Since we often have a duck or two residing in our coops we came up with this. A shallow feeding pan works great. Just sit waterer down in it and no more wet floors...
The ducks are famous for dribbling the water and it all catches in the pan.....
Little extra work to rinse and clean it each time you fill their waters, but worth it!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I set mine up on a block or come winter the heater and the shavings and poo stay out and the bedding stays dry.