This post is titled partly in jest because really, we are in no position to be giving chicken advice, amateurs that we are. But my neighbor is a bit of a chicken expert, and she helped me figure out a little tip.
She actually has never raised chicks, as her mama hens have always done the raising. But when she watched things around the house for us while we were away last weekend, she kindly listened to me lament over the terrible design of waterers for chicks. I explained that I can change the water ten times a day and it still doesn't seem to keep clean enough. Every time you turn around somebody kicks dirty shavings into it or better yet, poops right in the water. Gah!
I even had it lifted off the shavings and perched on a large flat rock about two inches high but it made no difference. My neighbor suggested we figure out a way to hang the waterer from the top of the cage. Brilliant!
I'm not sure why the waterers are sold the way they are. They should be designed and sold with the option to hang in the chicks habitat, a few inches away from the floor. Of course the necessary distance from the floor changes as they grow.
So, Adam drilled two tiny holes at the top, threaded in a couple of small eye hooks, added a length of chain and a bungee cord... and there we have it! A hanging waterer for our growing chicks on their one month birthday. It's been a few hours already and it has stayed perfectly clean. Unlike before when twenty minutes after a water changing it could honestly use another. This is a great new system, for sure.
These aren't the greatest pics lighting-wise but the moment was there so I snapped a few. Hopefully they help show how Adam put it together. Who knows, you're all probably doing this already and our discovery is not really a discovery at all; but just in case it helps one or two of you I thought it was worth sharing.
I should mention, their feeder (not in their home when I took these as it was out drying in the sun after a washing) does not have terrible problems keeping clean. They can't walk in the tray as they can with the waterer so it stays much cleaner. Although now that I think about it, I may turn that into a hanging feeder also. Why not? It works so well and the cleaner the better, I think.
Speaking of cleaner... my parents had an old metal dog kennel here and it's the perfect size for them right now, look at all that space and light! But goodness what a mess, shavings are everywhere. (I sweep a lot.) It is quite warm outside today so they are enjoying an afternoon on the screen porch, I'll sweep it all out when night falls and they return to the (cozy and warm at night) garage.
I just wanted to pop in quickly and share those two things with you today.
- Turn your waterer into one that hangs and you will be so happy.
- Large dog crates like this one are a dime a dozen at tag sales and flea markets around here (hopefully where you are too), and are great little homes for this stage.
Edited to add: My friend told me they DO make hanging feeders and waterers! Fantastic! I've seen them in the larger (usually galvanized metal) size for full grown chickens, but I've never seen them in the small size for chicks. So you could save yourself a little weekend project by buying hangers from the start if your feed store carries them. Otherwise, if you're like me and haven't seen the hanging style, you can make your own in ten minutes. ;)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
