Dodge77 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Got my 4 laydee's on sunday (ex-batts) and they all seem happy enough - got 10 eggs so far - but .... 1) They can't work out how to use the drinker - its as if their heads don't fit - and a bowl of water gets kicked over in seconds . Any suggestions ? 2) They eat ! I am happy to provide food (ex-batt crumb) all day every day as long as they know when to stop eating - you know the way dogs will eat til they pop but cats only eat what they need ? Well what do chooks do ? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Congrats on your new girlies!!! You must be thrilled. I wouldn't worry about the feeding issue as on the whole chooks don't over eat!!!! So make sure it's available all day, they tend to pick all day... As for the drinker, are you using a glug or superglug? is it at the right height for them??? perhaps move it about a bit. I think ex batts are used to drinking from a super glug type drinker so they may take a while to adjust, but they will adjust.......... Hope you enjoy them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge77 Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 Thanks Its a stand on the floor 'mushroom' shaped drinker but they just kinda bob around it without actually taking any water but if i supervise them with a bowl they lap it up (if chooks lap!). I have filled a galley cup up too so i know they have something to drink but they don't really get the idea of that either I suppose its a steep learning curve for them at the moment but they seem to have got the hang of every thing else so fast its just worrying me that they aren't taking in enough liquid - have had mash for tea so at least they have had something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 They will pick it up. I am sure someone better than me with batties will be along shortly..... I wonder if it's trial and error somewhat for them. You could try them with melon as that has a high water content.... dont know if it's too advanced for them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooties Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I've had my 3 ex bats since end of Feb and luckily they did work out the glug within a few hrs. However, the first treat they cottoned on to was watermelon - they hadn't been drinking much at all (I think it took them a couple of days to really cotton on to the glug) and I was worried they would be dehydrated, so I gave them watermelon. They absolutely loved it!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Best not to limit their food, they need it to be available all day. Perhaps you could show them how to use the drinker bu making them see that water is in it. I had to do that as I use the same type of drinkers. I used a stick and let them see the drips fall from it. They soon got the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
