I see a lot of post in here about the best way to keep chicks' feed and water clean as well as the chicks themselves. I thought it might be a good idea for our more forum members to share what works for them and why.
The most important thing to me is elevating feeders and waters to the proper height where chicks are unable to kick bedding into them and they are less likely to be able to climb into them. For watering I usually set up a platform above the bedding and then further elevate the waterer above the platform to roughly the back level of my shortest birds.
Feeders I simply elevate on their legs or on blocks. I'm not a fan of hanging feeders or waterers as I find it annoying to try to refill them.
My personal preferences for feeding are open troughs with spinners on them to prevent roosting. I like that you can simply pour more feed in them when they get low as well as the large amount of linear space for multiple birds to feed. I find I only need to clean them when they get soiled with too much poop.
EDITED TO ADD: I do not like the chick feeder troughs with the little individual holes in them. I find that the chicks tend to fight over one hole and they are a pain to refill, since they must be opened up instead of simply refilled in place.
I prefer traditional fount type waterers. My favorite are galvanized double wall units because they are easy to carry around and quick to wash out and refill with a garden hose. I'm not a fan of messing with plugging the bottom hole so I can fill the top as some founts require. I like to perform all water changes outside the coop where I can avoid the chance of spilling water where the birds are kept.
I should add that most of my experience has been with flocks of 25 to 50 birds.
What do the rest of you prefer to use? Please tell us the flock size you are working with when you post your recommendations.
The most important thing to me is elevating feeders and waters to the proper height where chicks are unable to kick bedding into them and they are less likely to be able to climb into them. For watering I usually set up a platform above the bedding and then further elevate the waterer above the platform to roughly the back level of my shortest birds.
Feeders I simply elevate on their legs or on blocks. I'm not a fan of hanging feeders or waterers as I find it annoying to try to refill them.
My personal preferences for feeding are open troughs with spinners on them to prevent roosting. I like that you can simply pour more feed in them when they get low as well as the large amount of linear space for multiple birds to feed. I find I only need to clean them when they get soiled with too much poop.
EDITED TO ADD: I do not like the chick feeder troughs with the little individual holes in them. I find that the chicks tend to fight over one hole and they are a pain to refill, since they must be opened up instead of simply refilled in place.
I prefer traditional fount type waterers. My favorite are galvanized double wall units because they are easy to carry around and quick to wash out and refill with a garden hose. I'm not a fan of messing with plugging the bottom hole so I can fill the top as some founts require. I like to perform all water changes outside the coop where I can avoid the chance of spilling water where the birds are kept.
I should add that most of my experience has been with flocks of 25 to 50 birds.
What do the rest of you prefer to use? Please tell us the flock size you are working with when you post your recommendations.
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