Keeping chicks’ water clean is an important part of raising chicks and managing their health and well-being.
Raising baby chicks is both a blessing, as well as a messy curse at times. Cute and lovable, though they are, they’re also capable of immense destruction and vast amounts poo.
One are of the chick brooder that may suffer the worse is the waterer, also sometimes called a fount, trough or drinker. These often consist of a shallow open dish with an upside down container or reservoir which dispenses water, typically via a gravity-fed system.
The open dish at the bottom where the chicks access the water is often open and unprotected, and can therefore become messy as chicks go about their daily chick-business. From falling or jumping into the water, perching on it to take a dump, or scratching their bedding all around, a chick waterer is often susceptible to ick and bedding.
Tip #1: Elevated Waterers
One of the easiest ways to help prevent your chicks from dirtying their water, is to simply elevate it off the ground a bit. The water container should be low enough that the chicks can still drink from it, but being elevated will help prevent some debris from contaminating the water.
Elevating the water can be done in numerous different ways:
Prop up on a sturdy flat object: Perhaps the simplest way to elevate chicks’ water is to simply put it on top of another object. This can be any flat object such as a brick, plank of wood, cement paver etc. You could also prop the water up on a plastic Tupperware tub which will also make for easy cleaning.
When choosing an object, do make sure that it will provide a steady surface on which the water container can sit and not fall off. As chicks age they’ll become stronger and capable of more destruction – this means you could potentially have chicks knocking over the waterer. That’s why it’s important to make sure the surface is flat and fairly level to make it more difficult for the water container to be knocked over.
Place on wire racks: A wire rack, such as a cookie/cake cooling rack or DIY frame with galvanized mesh netting on it can also make for a good water platform. These types of racks will create an elevated surface that allows debris to fall through. You’ll want a rack that has a perimeter larger than the waterer. That way it creates an area of no bedding close to the water source which will help keep the area clean.
One thing to watch for with wire racks, is that they can potentially be hard to chicks to walk on and could also potentially lead to feet injuries. To prevent this, use a wire mesh that is small enough your chicks can step on it without their feet falling through, or use a dowel rod-type rack which will be more comfortable for your chicks feet to grip, and will also give them a perching/roosting area.
To help make things easier to clean, you may want to place a plastic bin lid or something to catch whatever falls below the wire racks.
Hang from above: Another way to elevate your water system is to simply hang it from your brooder. a piece of wood, dowel rod, etc with a hook and some string will allow you to hang the water up above the ground a bit.
Keep in mind that as your chicks grow, you’ll also want to hang the water a bit higher. You’ll also want to make sure whatever is keeping the water suspended is strong and sturdy and won’t break or fall into the brooder.
Use Waterers with Built-in Stands: Some varieties of chick waterers available in stores and online from with adjustable legs. The water can be directly on the ground for the first few days to a week when chicks are young, and afterwards legs can be folded out from the waterer allowing you to elevate it up off the ground.
These types of waterers will often give you 2-4 levels of heights with which to elevate your chicks water and help keep it clean.
Tip #2: Use Your Marbles
One thing I like to do for new-born to 1 week-old chicks, is to add colored marbles to the tray part of their water. I add just enough to form a full layer on the bottom of the water bowl. Doing so helps prevent accidental drownings (chicks will fall asleep in their water if you let them) while also providing enough room for them to get a drink.
BUT, the marbles also help catch larger pieces of pine shavings and other substrate from getting into the water which helps keep the water a bit cleaner.
When I clean the water fount, I dump the marbles out first in a cheap strainer (like what you can get at the Dollar Store), and simply wash them with my hands in a bit of soap and hot water.
Tip #3: Use Nipple Waterers
Besides the typical water founts you see in stores for chicks, there are also nipple waterers available. Very similar to what a hamster or rabbit would use, chickens and chicks can also use this type of waterer.
These systems are great because they minimize spillage and water waste. One drawback is that for chicks they may require a bit more training to teach them how to properly use them. Nipple water systems produced for chicks are also not as readily available in farm supply stores, you may need to order them online. There are varieties specifically for chicks which should be easier for the chicks to use. Water nipples meant for adult chickens may be too hard for small chicks o use.
Tip #4: Substrate and Bedding Management
The bedding or substrate you choose to use in your chicks brooder can play a big role in water cleanliness.
Low-Dust Bedding: If possible, opt for low-dust bedding material which will be less likely to have airborne particles that can contaminate the water.
Choose options such as pine shavings, straw, bedding hemp, or shredded paper, and regularly fluff or replace the bedding to keep it clean and dry.
If using pine shavings shavings, look for bags that don’t have a lot of dust and small particulates accumulated at the bottom of the bag. If there’s a bunch of dust in all the bags available, try to avoid using any bedding from the bottom of the bag. You can add the small particles and dregs of the bag in your adult chickens dust baths instead so they don’t go to waste.
Hard to Kick Bedding: While pine shavings and shredded paper are often used on chick brooders, you might want to consider using some other types of bedding that are more difficult for your chicks to kick around. Pelletized horse bedding comes in hard pellets that can make for a good substrate. These pellets are very moisture absorbent, cheap, and smell good too.
However, the pellets might be a bit big and make it difficult for your chicks to walk around on it. The pellets once wet, dissolve and once dried again are essentially pine dust.
This said, many people have had success using pellet horse bedding with their chicks. I personally like using it with my ducks.
Deep Bedding: Additionally, use deep bedding to absorb moisture and minimize odor, further reducing the risk of water contamination. Think of this as a mini version of the deep-litter method.
Alternative Substrate Around the Water: Another thing you can do to help keep bedding out of your chicks water, is to use a different substrate around the water itself. such as old rag towels or disposable mats. These will need to be changed out and cleaned often, but will also help keep loose bedding away from the waterer while providing your chicks a soft and safe place to walk.
Tip #5: Regular Cleaning
This may go without saying, but regularly cleaning out your chicks water bowls or founts is a must in order to maintain health and hygiene.
Establish a routine for cleaning and refreshing the chicks’ water supply. .Change the water at least once or twice daily, more frequently if it becomes soiled or contaminated. Use a mild detergent to clean the waterers thoroughly, rinsing them well before refilling with fresh water.
Tip #6: Strategic Placement
Position the waterers away from feeding areas and high-traffic areas where chicks are more likely to scatter bedding or droppings. Place the waterers in a quiet, sheltered location within the brooder or coop, providing easy access for the chicks while minimizing the risk of contamination.
Tip #7: Use a Catchall Under the Water Source
I’ve already mentioned this once or twice in the article, but using something like the top lid of a plastic bin under your chicks water to catch water drips, substrate, poop etc. is a great way to help keep your chicks water and brooder cleaner. A plastic lid is typically easy to clean off, and if you’re like me, you’re fairly likely to have one or two around the house without it’s bin partner.
Using a lid or low tub under the water will help contain any wet substrate or messes which could possibly end up in the water bowl itself or in spreading wet-ick throughout the rest of your brooder.
Make sure to clean this out often, such as when you clean the water itself, and you’ll help keep a cleaner brooder as well.
Tip #8: Secure or Weigh Down Your Water
One of the biggest and worst messes that can occur in a brooder is a knocked over water fount and soggy bedding. Not only will it be a nasty smelly mess, but you’ll have to through out all of the bedding, clean up, and then add all new bedding back.
As such, I highly recommend weighing or strapping your water fount down so that your chicks can’t accidentally knock it over while they’re practicing their jumping and flying.
Use rope or string to secure the waterer to the side of the brooder or use something heavy to weigh it down and prevent it from being knocked over. Make sure that if you’re using something heavy on top, it’s super secure and can’t possibly be knocked over and hurt your chicks.
Tip #9: Create a Protective Top Cover
Most commercial chick founts or waterers come with either a flat top or some kind of handle top. Both make for fun places for your chicks to jump on and roost. And once on top, next comes the poo, right down into the water bowl part.
To help prevent this, either extent the top of the fountain up so it’s high enough your chicks can’t jump on it, create a dome top that the chicks will slide off of and not be able to perch, or create a top or enclosure for your water fount that it doesn’t matter if your chicks get on top, they can roost all the want and no poo will go into the water.
To extend the top you can use something as simple as a cardboard tube or pool noodle, this works especially well if you’re suspending your water fount with a rope or cord of some sort.
For a dome, you can use a ceramic bowl or funnel and attach it upside down on top of the water with some putty.
To create a safe enclosure, use a box on it’s side and place the waterer inside of it making sure that the top of the water fount comes close to the top of the box it’s in.
Tip #10: Have More than One Water Fount
While it will be more work for you, having to clean more than 1 water fount in your brooder will help them stay cleaner for longer. This of course also depends on how many chicks your brooder is housing. If your brooder houses a large number of chicks, you should probably already have more than 1 water fount.
Things to Keep in Mind:
It’s basically impossible to keep your chicks water completely clean at all times. These tips will help keep it clean and for longer periods of time, but you’ll still need to clean the water founts regularly to prevent them from becoming contaminated.
How much mess your chicks make and which methods to use to keep the water clean will depend on the age of your chicks, how many there are, the kind of substrate you’re using, how much room above and around you have, what type of brooder you’re using etc.
If you’re using a kiddy-tent or cardboard box brooder, you most likely won’t be able to suspend the water from the top since these types of brooders don’t have very sturdy sides. If your brooder is small, you might not have enough room to add in multiple water founts or platforms for them to sit on. Depending on where you live, some types of substrate might be available to you while others are not.
Keep in mind your own particular situation and needs, and find out which of these tips work best for you and your set up. I hope these tips help!
