where to put a waterer and what kind

[mackenziesmomma]

My chicken's constantly stand on top of the waterer and crap in the water. It is gross! Anyone have a design solution? I would prefer not to have to mess with everyday either.

I have tried putting it on a 2x4- does nothing but make the perch higher.

tia

 

[BeckyLa]

I would like more information concerning your setup. Do you have adult birds in a coop/run or chicks in a brooder? It would help to know.

As for keeping them off the waterer, you can tape a funnel on top or nail a board that it can sit under and have the board at a steep angle, like over a nest box, so they can't get footing. For my adult birds I use old refrigerator pans and dish pans in the birds runs.

 

[mackenziesmomma]

Thanks for your response.

I have adult chickens. I have a square chicken tractor. It is approx 8x4x3. Actually, I have 2 of em with 6 chickens in each.

Your chickens don't get in the waterers? Have you had any drown?

 

[masschix]

I was having the same problem until I put the waterer underneath the nesting boxes. There's not enough room over the waterer for them to get up on it. I just blocked off the last nesting box so the girls can't sit there and poop in the water too. If this didn't work, I was going to get a hanging waterer from the feed store. I was told this will prevent them from standing on the top. Good luck!

 

[mackenziesmomma]

Do your chicken's scratch and fill it up with dirt/ grass?

BTW., can chickens learn to drink from a rabbit type waterer?

 

[TeaLady]

Mine use a rabbit type waterer, but I use the dog size. They kept jamming the ball up into the tube with the rabbit size.

To get them started I pecked their beaks against the ball (like dipping a new chick's beak in the water dish). Only had to do it once, and not even with all the chicks. They see the others drinking and go at it themselves.

 

[cjeanean]

wow, that's an awesome idea!!! The question is, how large do they come??? I would need pretty big dog waterers!!! Thanks for the idea!!!

 

[mackenziesmomma]

ok, I'm excited!

Do you start them off as day old chicks drinking from the rabbit waterer? Can older chickens (7 months) learn how? Where do you buy a dog size rabbit waterer?

:

 

[MsBentleyboy]

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/polyethylene_waterers.html

At the above website you will see some waterers. I purchased the smallest one, 3 gallons, and my chickens can't sit on top of it...they slide right off. However, a baby chick may be able to stand on it with it's tiny feet and lightweight body (I haven't dealt with small chicks yet). You may even be able to hang these...I don't but have mine propped up in the corner on some boards which is higher than the straw down below. I had to move it up to that point because they would scratch and throw straw in it.

The only down side to this waterer is if you don't have a huge flock 20 birds or under, your water sits in there for quite a while and can become kinda slimy. I change mine out once a week even if it still has water in it.

Any larger sized one would be difficult to fill in my opinion b/c the tank has to be turned upside-down to fill.

 

[dixygirl]

Here are some other options

I have Le Bistro Automatic Waterer in my peafowl pen. Holds 5 gallons of water

They have another one that will hold their feed too
I love it.


Another good option is a Horse Automatic Waterer. Just screw a water hose on the side and leave the spigot turned on. It will automatically refill itself as the water level goes down and then automatically shut off until the water level gets low again! No more lugging buckets or water or a hose!

Just sit them on the ground.