Keep Chicks' Water Clean: Simple Tricks For Happy Chicks

Keeping your chicks' water clean is essential to their health. Chicks can easily transport diseases and contaminants to their water source, as they live so close to the ground. They also often flick debris, dust, and dirt into their water, and sometimes they might accidentally defecate in it. To prevent this, you can use a riser or bricks to elevate the water source, or switch to nipple waterers, which are designed to keep chickens from roosting on top of their water source.

How to keep chicks from dirtying their water

Raise the water dish

Raising the water dish is a great way to keep your chicks' water clean. By elevating the waterer, you can minimise the amount of dirt, debris, and bacteria that makes its way into the water. This is especially important as chicks are susceptible to a disease called coccidiosis, which can be caused by eating feed off a wet, soiled brooder floor.

There are a few ways to raise the water dish. One simple method is to place the waterer on top of a couple of sturdy bricks. Just ensure that the chicks can still comfortably reach the water. Another option is to create a riser using hardware cloth. This involves bending a piece of hardware cloth four times to create a platform that raises the waterer off the ground and out of the way of chick butts. If you have the space, you can also place a pallet on the ground and put the waterer on top, which will prevent chicks from scratching dirt into the water.

In addition to raising the water dish, it's important to clean and refresh the water regularly. Depending on various factors, such as water consumption, location, and the number of chicks, you should aim to scrub out the waterer at least once a week and refresh the water. If the waterer is particularly dirty, you can use vinegar to help disinfect it.

Use nipple waterers

Nipple waterers are an excellent way to ensure your chicks always have access to clean water. They are a contained system, which, as Dr. Mike Petrik, DVM, MSc, The Chicken Vet, points out, is far better at reducing disease than open water sources.

The nipple waterer is a bottle of water that hangs above the bedding and droppings, providing chicks with a source of clean and fresh water. The height of the waterer can be adjusted as the chicks grow, and they prevent chicks from kicking shavings or manure into the water. They are also resistant to bacterial growth, which is a common issue with open waterers.

When using nipple waterers, it is important to ensure the water is at a height that the chicks find comfortable and convenient. As a minimum, you should have one nipple per nine hens. It is also important to ensure the chicks are drinking before they start eating, as this can help prevent sticky bottoms.

Nipple waterers are widely used by professional farmers across North America and are recommended by vets. They are easy to use and can be hung from a wire hanger, or mounted to other surfaces with wire cage and wall brackets.

Clean the waterer regularly

Clean water is essential to the health of your chicks, and they drink more than you may think, especially in warm weather. Chicks can easily transport diseases and contaminants to their water source, so it is important to keep their waterers clean and free of unwanted debris.

The frequency with which you clean your chicks' waterer depends on various factors, such as how much water they consume, the location of the waterer, and how many chicks you have. As a general rule, you should clean your waterer at least once a week, watching for any unwanted debris, and provide one waterer for every 6 to 8 chicks. If you have the K&H Poultry or Duck Waterer, daily cleaning is made easy with their removable filter trays. No draining is necessary; simply remove the filter tray and tap it lightly or spray it with water to remove any unwanted materials.

If you live in an area where temperatures dip below freezing, consider a heated chicken waterer or a waterer deicer to ensure your chicks' water remains accessible.

To prevent your chicks from dirtying their water, it is also important to keep the waterer off the ground and out of the way of the litter and chick butts. You can do this by raising the waterer on a pedestal or a few bricks.

Provide enough waterers

Newly hatched chicks, like any other babies, must have access to clean water and be kept well-fed. It is important to provide enough waterers to ensure that the chicks have consistent access to clean water.

When raising baby chicks, keeping the water clean in their brooder can be challenging. Chicks kick shavings into the waterer and often defecate in it. They also step in and splash water, which can lead to wet litter, and when chicks eat feed off the wet, soiled brooder floor, it can cause a disease called coccidiosis, the number one killer of baby chicks.

To prevent this, it is important to provide enough waterers and to place them no more than 24 inches (60 cm) from the chicks' heat source. As the chicks grow and move to expanded housing, ensure they never have to travel more than 10 feet (3 m) to get a drink. When upgrading to a larger waterer, leave the old waterers in place for a few days until the chicks adjust to the new source.

It is also essential to keep the waterers clean and scrub them at least once a week. Additionally, consider using poultry nipple waterers or raising the waterers off the ground to make it more challenging for chicks to defecate in them.

Use a waterer designed to keep chickens from roosting

Keeping your chicks' water clean can be challenging, as they tend to kick shavings and dirt into the water and even poop in it. To prevent this, it is recommended to use a waterer designed to keep chickens from roosting. Here are some options for waterers that can help keep your chicks' water clean:

K&H Poultry Waterer or K&H Duck Waterer

The K&H Poultry Waterer and the K&H Duck Waterer are specifically designed to keep chickens from roosting and adding debris to their water. These waterers feature an easy-to-remove filter tray that simplifies daily cleaning. They are also BPA-free and environmentally friendly.

Harris Farms Hanging Poultry Drinker

The Harris Farms Hanging Poultry Drinker is a domed-shaped waterer that prevents chickens from roosting. It is made of heavy-gauge galvanized steel, which makes it rust-resistant and harder to knock over. This option is more expensive but offers durability and longevity.

RentACoop Poultry Nipple Waterer

The RentACoop Poultry Nipple Waterer is a BPA-free plastic waterer with four nipples to accommodate four birds. It features a cone lid that prevents chickens from roosting. The water entering the cups is typically clean due to the sealed reservoir, but the cups may require more frequent cleaning.

Coopworx Water Silo

The Coopworx Water Silo is a heavy-duty waterer that keeps light out and has a lip to catch water dribbles. It is more expensive but provides satisfaction and peace of mind.

Galvanized Double Wall Chicken Waterer

The Galvanized Double Wall Chicken Waterer is a durable and low-maintenance option. It can be filled every few days and only needs to be washed and rinsed occasionally. A heated base can be purchased separately, making it ideal for providing water during winter.

These waterer options are designed to prevent chickens from roosting and help keep their water clean. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the waterers are still essential to ensure your chicks have access to clean and healthy water.

Frequently asked questions