why oh why do they poo in their water dish

[vnsseed]

I have a TSC chick waterer and my chicks are constantly pooing in their water and their kicking shavings in. Raising it up with a brick didn't work... heck one of them has decided to roost on the top of the bottle, can't figure out how she got up there.... they are only a week old! They are all perfectly healthy and vigorous... its just REALLY annoying

 

[crazy for chicken]

try to give them more room. mine keep doing that and i gave up and out they went to a bigger place.

 

[aidenbaby]

Some of the other put cones on top of the waterers and feeders to put a stop to the roosting. I have one that keeps trying to sleep in the food, not on top but in those little holes.

 

[TheDuckCrew]

you're lucky you don't have ducks! mine climb into their water and swim in it. GROSS!! they poop in their food too. i think they just like to do it to give us more work.

 

[vnsseed]

Thanks, but I am not sure how much bigger... I have 12 chicks in a 4x4 by 2ft high brooder. Any bigger and it would be a coop!!

 

[Bantam Bodon]

Quote:
I agree, thats exactly why they do it.

 

[xadika]

...

 

[codybird]

I read on here that the height of the waterer should be at the height of the chicks back.

I raised my waterer on a piece of wood and it helped the problem alot.

 

[bethandjoeync]

our little stinkers did this too, so we raise the waterer so they stretch just a little to drink. and as far as getting shavings in the water, they may be dust bathing near it (that's where mine wanted to, right beside the water) and put something on top of the jar so they can't get up there. I had one or two that consistantly got on top to watch all the others, and then fall asleep and OPPs! the next thing ya know, poo in the water.

 

[LaneRae]

Oh My. Do you really have to sterilize the waterer 4 times a day? Are they that sensitive? I just wash and change the water daily and have them on tetracycline in the water. I would guess you are worried about coccidea right?

Alayne