When raising baby chicks, keeping the water clean in their brooder can be a major challenge. Busy chicks kick shavings into the waterer and always find a way to poop in it. By far, my preference is to use poultry nipple waterers, however, it is not always possible to hang a bottle of water from the side of the brooder, particularly when utilizing a cardboard box.
When my two, Wheaten Marans hatched a month ago, I decided to fashion a smaller, simple riser to test out the platform concept. I made four bends in a piece of hardware cloth to create the riser. The riser measures 4 inches from the floor, low enough for the chicks to be able to hop up onto and not walk underneath. The surface is only large enough for the feeder and waterer and chicks to fit on it at the same time- no extra room for playing. I wasn't sure if the hardware cloth alone would be strong enough to support a full waterer, feeder and two chicks, but it is!
I placed a sheet pan on the brooder floor, lined the sheet pan with shavings and placed the hardware cloth riser on top of the sheet pan. The sheet pan and shavings catch any spills and the chicks are unable to play on or eat out of the wet shavings. Most notably, they have been unable to find a way to poop in the water 99% of the time! Right on!
The chicks are 4 weeks old today and are tall enough to reach the water without climbing onto the riser and their water stays clean!
This is a great idea! I'm hoping to get more chicks in the Spring and will try this out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlotte, it was remarkably simple to make and effective!
ReplyDeleteWe used the same type of container for our last chicks. We made a raised floor out of hardware cloth which worked very well. But we also had to wrap the cage in regular screening as one of the chicks (2 days old) was determined to "escape" repeatedly. She earned the name Houdini!
ReplyDeleteIngenius! Have our first hatch Christmas Day and will do this!!!
ReplyDeletethey are sooo cute! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://tinaspicstory.blogspot.de/
That looks great! I will definitely try this idea. I like to use bottles, too, but there are definitely times when its overkill. By the way - and you probably already know - but it looks like you have a pair there! Perfect! Wheatens are easy to sex because they feather in so differently. I hatched Wheaten Ameraucanas and really enjoyed the easy sexing.
ReplyDeleteI did know that, Heather, but thank you. This is my first pair of Wheatens. I wish I could keep him. :(
ReplyDeleteI would love to hatch some Wheaten Amers, I have black and blue in my flock now. The Wheatens are so pretty!
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment!
So exciting! Good luck, let me know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to go to the barn and cut herself some cloth thankyou for the tip! Again as I forget last time.
ReplyDeleteI do something simular. :) I put a heavy layer of shavings in, push in a small butter bowl large side up, then use a heavy duty coffee can lid as a table top type thing. One for the water and one for the feed. keeps it clean and from tipping. It's like eating from the table, lol. Thanks for the great idea with the wire! love it.
ReplyDeleteIf I get or hatch chicks this Spring, (and everyone knows I will!) I'm using your idea for sure. Thanks
ReplyDeleteYou always have such great idea's. This is one I need to remember.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Pam! Enjoy your new babies!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary. I hope it helps! :)
ReplyDeleteRabbit water bottles are really easy and the water stays nice and clean. The chicks learn to use the water bottles really quickly. If you have several chicks, you can always add another bottle. Using the rabbit water bottles also frees up a lot of floor space for your chicks :)
ReplyDeleteI find myself coming back to your page quite often these days. Its my first time raising chicks. Seems like hard work being a chick mom, but look forward to it. My husband also purchased two Polish hens that were infested with lice. He dusted them with Seven and have them in quarantine and will re-dust in seven days. Thanks to your page I new what to do. They are sweetest girls and I feel bad for them. Thanks for all you do and will look forwards your knowledge to help me raise healthier happy hens.
ReplyDeleteThat's so nice of you to say, Gregoria, thank you. I'm happy to know that you were empowered to fix the problem yourself!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have been trying to find a way to get the chicks from making a mess in their water dishes and food dishes. I used kitchen cooling racks that were really old and they hop right up there and eat! Nice and clean. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! My chicks filled the waterer with shavings so quick but making this riser was quicker! The only thing in the water now is poop and I don't think anything will stop that!
ReplyDeleteWhat will put an end to contaminated water is The Chicken Fountain! http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/the-advantages-of-poultry-nipples.html
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