Recent content by Lone Star Lady

We are trying to get a safe run finished for our chickens, and we need to enclose the top. The run is attached to our coop. My husband's idea is to cover the run with shade cloth, which he says should be strong enough to stop raccoons from climbing over the top of the fence. He says if he can't...

Welcome to BYC! (BYP would be more correct, as folks on this site have all kinds of poultry and other critters.) There are lots of duck and geese enthusiasts who will help you solve problems and just enjoy your love of these wonderful birds.

What a great idea! Wish I had thought of condensation back then.

Regarding trying to keep water fresh in the heat of summer - MannaPro has a product on the market called "All Natural Water Protector", which states: "Prevents build-up of film, residue and natural contaminants. For all poultry and fowl. Also safe for other livestock waterers." It can be...

Oh, she's beautiful! Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful picture.

I have read that cross-beak chickens can't use the nipple watering system, but don't know it for a fact. Some folks continue to provide the open watering method for them. You do have to make sure the chickens don't get dehydrated in hot weather. I'm putting out cold watermelon in the shade for...

There are two important issues in teaching the chickens the nipple watering system: (1) make sure the lid to the container is not sealed - there has to be air available for the water to be able to come out of the nipples, and (2) remove any other readily available drinking water supply. If you...

We are new to nipple watering, but what we see is that they don't all try to drink at once. I would think two nipples would be quite sufficient for 10 to 12 hens.

Thanks for the answers to my rooster not drinking. I went back out later, about noon, and he was VERY CLOSELY watching the hens drinking, then finally began to work at pecking the valve and getting some water. He's sweet, but maybe a bit thick between the ears....

We set up our horizontal nipple bucket yesterday evening, and our four hens caught on quite quickly. It is now mid-morning the next day and our sweet "Jimmy" rooster has not been able to figure out how to get water from that bucket. I have shown him over and over, and he watches the hens drink...

Thank you for replying so quickly, which saved them from a third day of med!

Dawg53 - I read the dosage amount for Valbazen, but I haven't found anywhere if it's just a one-time dose, or if it's repeated for so many consecutive days. Is it to be repeated in 10 days? I had read directions somewhere that it is to be given for 5 consecutive days, then not repeated until...