Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jasperaliceuk]

If I want to feed a tonic to the chickens I prefer to make up small quantities so that there is more chance it will be drunk, never mind the fact that it is too expensive to waste. The Glugs are too big - just a litre quantity seems to get lost at the bottom so I am looking for a smaller version for when a tonic is needed. My Bluebelle is having a huge moult right now so I wanted to help her out a bit.

 

Does anyone have any ideas? Can get small ones that sit on the ground but they will just kick piles of dirt in it. I'd preferable to hang it from the WIR. If I had a dangly one wouldn't it all spill as it swayed around?

 

Sue

[Chortle Chook]

You can get some pretty coloured little 'cups' from the Cotswold Chickens shop for only £1.45

 

Cotswold Chickens coop cups

 

Another idea might be to use those little bottles you get for bunnies. Omlet does some in nice colours and chickens do use them. They are quite handy for Polands.

 

Omlet drinking bottles

[surf_space]

If you wanted something even smaller what about a budgie drinker?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Living-World-Bird-Cage-Drinker-Feeder-Budgie-Canary-Finch-Bottle-Accessory-New-/160891385843?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Birds&hash=item2575dfb7f3

[suebee]

I use the red and white drinkers that you can dangle if you want... Are they called gravity drinkers? Shaped like a bell with a narrow lip for drinking, that you turn upside down when you've filled them.

 

Anyway..... them!

 

Mine are 1.5 litres, and I stand them on an upturned (broad) terracotta plant pot, probably about 6 inches off the ground. They never get shavings in them, and my two do an awful lot of flapping around! I've seen smaller ones still, but the drinking lip is narrower still, and these would probably get clogged up with shavings, if not off the ground.

[The Dogmother]

I just put less water in their usual gravity drinkers, either that or use bunny bottles.

[jasperaliceuk]

....thank you - I never thought of putting the gravity feeder on top of something - that's probably the best solution - I'll get a 1.5 litre one today - going to investigate Whipley Manor near Cranleigh who stock Aubiose and chicken stuff.

 

Sue

[The Dogmother]

Ideally the feeder and drinkers should be hung so they are level with the hens's backs. Mine are suspended on unbent wire cost hangers with hooks made on the ends.