Polish Breeders Club

I was just reading a booklet on Crested Breeds and the author advised not watering in 3 gallon waterers (because of birds rubbing their crests, he also advised not using open waterers but using a large ceramic rabbit bowl.  Isn't this an open waterer?  What do the rest of you show people use for waterers to keep crests nice?  I have some of Glenn's pop bottle waterers, and I love them, but most of my birds aren't in individual cages.  What suggestions does everyone have?

I sure wouldn't use a large ceramic bowl! That's crazy. In my individual pens I use the pop bottle founts. My large pens have three gallon waterers. I haven't had a problem with them at all.

I think he might have meant the ceramic dome waterers. Medalta crockery made them and they were a font type waterer.

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/medalta-chicken-waterer-crock

I always advise people to look for the wider lipped plastic fonts. One kind has a shaped top and the other has a straightsided top. On the shaped top kind the birds do rub their crests a bit but on the straight sided kind the lip where they drink allows more "head room"

Hope thats clearer than mud LOL

Blackstar, you have it pretty much correct.  There are two things to consider in waterers for crested fowl.  First, the birds can damage the crest by rubbing it when they drink.  Try to find something that does not touch the front of the crest when they drink.  Second, they can damage the crest by getting it wet/dirty.  Use something that allows them to water without  getting the crest wet when they drink.  A wet crest WILL get dirty and stain.

I keep my flock in small enough groups that I can use the long nose aluminum pop bottle waterers with one litre bottles.  Larry Glenn has good luck using one gallon waterers set up on concrete blocks off the ground.  Before we got the long nose pop bottle waterers, we used the plastic ones made by GQF and sold by many of the poultry supply dealers.  The crests kept getting flattened on front because of constant pressure when they drink.   This was especially true with silkies.

Glen Cryar

Glen where do you get the "long nose pop bottle waterers" and how long did it take the birds to figure that out? or do you have training tricks to use? and one more thing do they drip?

Thanks Stella

Blackstar

We have the waterers made at a local foundry.  Cutlers Poultry Supply sells  them.  The birds have no trouble finding the water, and no, they do not drip.

glen

Thanks I will look them up and see is they ship to Canada. I would like to try them out.

Is this the one?

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_60_61&products_id=855

OK.  So I went out and watched, and my birds are indeed rubbing their crests, not only on the 3 gallon metal waterers, but also on the metal feeders.  If I put the feed in a bowl, they happily jump in and scratch it all out.   I'm planning to rig up a rack of pop bottle waterers.  What shall I do for feeders?

You can make your own waterier and feeder. the waterier can be made with 5gal. pale and the bottom of a planter a big one. the bucket you drill a hole 1/2 in. at the top of  the bucket, the planter bottom you put up on two cinder blocks and then you fill the bucket with water and put the lid on and turn upside down on the planter bottom. The crest wont touch the bucket. the feeder you drill the bottom with 2 in. hole saw, 6 to 8 holes then you bolt the bottom to the planter bottom and you use stainless steel nuts and bolts and again the crests wont touch, you fill the top with feed and hang it by it's handle 

That is the correct link.

glen

Thanks Glen do you have an answer for Cindy about the feeders?

 I just use regular hanging feeders myself but I am open to new ideas too?

Blackstar

I use the 1 pint plastic cups that hang on the wire.  You can cut out the wire behind the wire so that the crest do not rub when feeding.  Put a strip of 2 inch duct tape across the front of the cup so that the birds do not bill the feed out.  It saves on thw feed bill too.

glen

Interesting. Thanks for the ideas. 

gcryar at August 8, 2010 at 8:53 AM

Blackstar

 

I use the 1 pint plastic cups that hang on the wire.  You can cut out the wire behind the wire so that the crest do not rub when feeding.  Put a strip of 2 inch duct tape across the front of the cup so that the birds do not bill the feed out.  It saves on thw feed bill too.

 

glen

Any chance of a picture?  I'm not visualizing this.

I could you a pic too please that would be great